Oriane
Lawrence Johnson
Oriane Yehouenou's victory at No. 5 singles gave Morgan State a 4-3 win at Howard.

Lady Bears Outlast Rival Howard, 4-3

4/9/2018 12:01:00 AM

By: Kevin C. Paige, MSU Athletic Communications
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 8, 2018)-The Lady Bears' tennis team ended a two-match losing skid with a hard fought 4-3 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division victory over Beltway rival Howard on Sunday at the Banneker Recreation Center.
 
The win was the second straight for Morgan State over the rival Lady Bison. Morgan State improved to 6-11 overall, 2-1 in the MEAC, while Howard dropped to 5-8, 2-2 MEAC.
 
Morgan State began the match by claiming the doubles point, following victories at the No. 2 and 3 spots to take 1-0 lead, which would be crucial heading into singles action.

Danielle Thompson would record her third straight victory at No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Howard's Nathalie Finch, giving Morgan State a 2-0 lead.

The host Lady Bison would respond by winning the next three matches at No. 2-4 to go in front, 3-2.

Morgan State's Asmara Faulke evened the contest at 3-3 after defeating Sajela Harlow in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.

With the score all tied at three wins apiece, it was only fitting that the final and deciding match of the day between the Lady Bears' Oriane Yehouenou and Howard's Christina Joynes at No. 5 singles, would go three sets.

Yehouenou would win the first set by a score of 6-1, before Joynes would take the second set, 4-6. Yehouenou would regroup and win the third set, 6-3 to give Morgan State the win.

"This was the biggest win of the season for us, and a very nice bounce back from our last match," said Morgan State head coach Matt Townes. "We played very tough when we needed to, and the ladies stepped up in a big way for each other. Great day to be a Bear."
 
Morgan State 4, Howard 3
April 8, 2018
Washington, D.C. (Banneker Recreation Center)
 
Singles
No. 1 – Danielle Thompson (MSU) d. Nathalie Finch 6-4, 6-2
No. 2 – Yassmine Khirl (HU) d. Alexus Gill 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 – Nicole Hutchison (HU) d. Peggy Rooke 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
No. 4 – Kindha Nasef (HU) d. Dana Santiago 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
No. 5 – Oriane Yehouenou (MSU) d. Christina Joynes 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
No. 6 – Asmara Faluke (MSU) d. Sajela Harlow 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 – Finch/Hutchison (HU) d. Thompson/Rooke 6-5
No. 2 – Gill/Faluke (MSU) d. Nasef/Khirl 6-3
No. 3 – Yehouenou/Santiago (MSU) d. Joynes/Aria Ragas 7-5
 
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