March 18, 2004

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 5, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 2

Singles
1. Beatriz Cabrera (UIC) def. Cassie Drake (NIU) 6-0, 6-3
2. Branka Savic (NIU) def. Ayca Gumuscu (UIC) 5-7, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (2)
3. Ivonne Andrade (NIU) def. Iris Jaklin (UIC) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
4. Corey Steven (UIC) def. Kristi McIntyre (NIU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Molly Smith (UIC) def. Daniela Martinez (NIU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Athanasia Giannoulopoulou (UIC) def. Megan Brooks (NIU) 6-7 (1), 6-0, 6-2

Doubles
1. Cabrera/Steven (UIC) def. Andrade/Savic (NIU) 9-7
2. Jaklin/Gumuscu (UIC) def. Drake/Martinez (NIU) 9-7
3. Brooks/McIntyre (NIU) def. Smith/Christina Oum (UIC) 8-4

RECORDS: Northern Illinois now 4-5; Illinois-Chicago now 8-6
NEXT HUSKIE MATCH: Friday, March 26 - University at Buffalo at Northern Illinois University, 1 p.m.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS WOMEN'S TENNIS FALLS TO UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO 5-2
EVERGREEN PARK, IL--- The University of Illinois at Chicago handed the Northern Illinois University women's tennis team a 5-2 loss on Thursday (March 18). The loss is the Huskies fourth consecutive in their annual rivalry with the Flames and ninth in the teams' last ten meetings.

On the doubles court, after dropping a pair of 9-7 decisions in the top two positions, freshman Megan Brooks (Aurora / West) and Kristi McIntyre (Grand Bend, Ontario / North Bend Secondary) broke through to score an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles.

"Both the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles matches were very well played, but unfortunately we lost a couple close points," Huskie coach Laura Scott said.

In singles action, UIC put Northern Illinois away taking four of six matches, with a trio of matches reaching a third set. In the top flight, Beatriz Cabrera downed Cassie Drake (Stilwell, KS / Shawnee Mission South) 6-0, 6-3. Mid-American Conference Player of the Week Branka Savic (Geelong, Australia / North Geelong Secondary) earned one of the Huskie victories with a 5-7, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (2) win at No. 2 singles. Ivonne Andrade (San Luis Potosi, Mexico / Instituto Lomos del Real) scored the other NIU win with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 win in the third slot.

On the bottom half of the scorecard, the Huskies dropped all three matches, as Corey Steven defeated McIntyre at No. 4 (6-3, 6-4) and Molly Smith beat Daniela Martinez (Mexico City, Mexico / Colegio Eton) in the No. 5 slot (6-1, 6-1). Brooks rounded out the Huskie effort with a tough three set loss to Athanasia Giannoulopoulou in the sixth spot, 6-7 (1), 6-0, 6-2.

"Not having Karrie (Tyioran) in our lineup definitely impacted the team today," Scott added. "It is tough to perform after losing a teammate just before the match. I had to ask three players to play positions that they haven't played before and they played well in those roles." Tyioran was forced to the sideline due to food poisoning.

The Huskies (4-5, 0-1 MAC) return to conference play when they host the University at Buffalo (6-4, 0-2 MAC) next Friday (March 26). First serve is set for 1 p.m.

---Copy by Matt Baylor