March 30, 2002

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- Northwestern's 17th-ranked women's tennis team managed to escape against a gritty Harvard team Thursday afternoon at the Riviera Country Club. With come-from-behind wins at No. 1 doubles and No. 4 singles, the Wildcats got the wins they needed to take the match.

With the comeback win at No. 1 doubles, the doubles point went to the Wildcats.

Northwestern soon upped their lead with wins at No. 5 and 6 singles, putting them on the verge of victory, 3-0. But then the drama unfolded. On the top four courts, Harvard was forging what looked like a possible sweep, although all four matches were extremely close. The Wildcats got the clinching win, however, from Simona Petrutiu, who pulled out the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

NORTHWESTERN 4, HARVARD 3

DOUBLES:
1) Jackson-Petrutiu (NU) d. Bergman-Lingman 8-4 (NU 1-0)
2) Rush-Piriou (NU) d. Martire-Hyotte 8-1
3) McGinty-Broughton (H) d. Barnes-Yung (NU) 8-5

SINGLES:
1) Courtney Bergman (H) d. Marine Piriou 7-6(0), 6-1 (NU 3-1)
2) Susanna Lingman (H) d. Lia Jackson > 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 (NU 4-3)
3) Alexis Martire (H) d. Jessica Rush 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 (NU 3-2)
4) Simona Petrutiu (NU) d. Fleur Broughton 4-6 , 6-4, 6-4 (NU 4-2)
5) Andrea Yung (NU) d. Lara Naqushbandi 6-1, 6-2 (NU 2-0)
6) Ruth Barnes (NU) d. Ashley Hyotte 6-4, 6-1 (NU 3-0)

RECORDS: Harvard 3-7 (spring), 7-7(overall), Northwestern 12-5