Wingate, N.C.----The 27th-ranked North Georgia Nighthawks went 2-1 in doubles play Sunday afternoon, then picked up three of the first four singles victories to prevail 5-2 over No. 15 Wingate University in the second round of the NCAA Southeast Region 2 women's tennis tournament. The Nighthawks advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 in Surprise, Ariz., improving to 16-7 on the season. Wingate ends its season at 21-5 overall.

North Georgia went 2-1 in doubles play. Wingate senior Oroma Womeodu (Memphis, Tenn.) teamed with freshman Chyi Lee (Taipei, Taiwan) for an 8-2 win at three doubles, but UNG won 8-5 at two doubles. Wingate's number one team of senior Maria Garcia (San Carlos, Venezuela) and sophomore Michela Verpelli (Milan, Italy) erased a 7-5 deficit, taking an 8-7 lead before falling 9-8 in a tiebreaker.

North Georgia took a 3-1 lead with a 6-1, 6-1 win at two singles, while a 6-2, 6-3 victory at three singles made it 4-1. Verpelli got the Bulldogs on the board in singles play with a 7-6, 6-1 victory at one singles, but UNG won 7-5, 6-1 at four singles to clinch the match.

Junior Sydney Homan (Huntsville, Ala.) was heading to a third set at six singles when the match was clinched, while sophomore Marisa Ostoja (Split, Croatia) won the first set and had a 1-0 lead in set two at five singles.