SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State women's tennis forced three singles matches to go the distance, however it came up short Wednesday afternoon here to Saint Louis, 6-1.

The Bears (5-12) were headlined by Mary Houston's thrilling victory in No. 2 singles over SLU's Norhan Hesham, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. It was the only three-set match of the day, as the other two singles contests played a 10-point tiebreak in lieu of the third set.

To begin the dual, the Billikens' (13-5) pair of Lizzie Barlow and Fiorella Duran defeated Silva Avakian and Amy Henning, 6-1, in the No. 3 position. Next, SLU's Sandra Gines and Elizabeth Mintusova took down Juliette Robinson and Houston, 6-3, in the No. 2 slot to clinch the doubles point for the visiting team. As a result, the flight one match was suspended with Diana Cabrera and Alyson Piskulic leading Saint Louis' Hesham and Mya Spencer, 5-3.

In singles, Saint Louis opened up play by taking victories in flights five and six. SLU's Gines defeated Avakian (No. 5), 6-0, 6-1, followed by the Billikens' Barlow taking out Henning (No. 6), 6-1, 6-1, to give Saint Louis a commanding 3-0 lead.

Next, SLU's Duran defeated Robinson 7-5, 6-3, in No. 3 singles to clinch the dual for the Billikens. Then, Saint Louis' Spencer downed Piskulic, 5-7, 7-5, (10-3), in flight four. Afterwards, Houston got the Bears on the board with her singles victory, and SLU's Mintusova earned the final victory of the afternoon with a win over Cabrera, 4-6, 6-4, (10-6), in the No. 1 spot.

Up next, Missouri State hits the road for a matchup with Missouri Valley Conference foe Drake Saturday at 11 a.m. in Des Moines, Iowa.

Results:

Doubles

1 – Diana Cabrera/Alyson Piskulic (MOST) vs. Norhan Hesham/Mya Spencer (SLU) 5-3 (uf)

2 – Sandra Gines/Elizabeth Mintusova (SLU) def. Mary Houston/Juliette Robinson (MOST) 6-3

3 – Lizzie Barlow/Fiorella Duran (SLU) def. Silva Avakian/Amy Henning (MOST) 6-1

Order of finish – 3,2

Singles

1 – Elizabeth Mintusova (SLU) def. Diana Cabrera (MOST) 4-6, 6-4, (10-6)

2 – Mary Houston (MOST) def. Norhan Hesham (SLU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3

3 – Fiorella Duran (SLU) def. Juliette Robinson (MOST) 7-5, 6-3

4 – Mya Spencer (SLU) def. Alyson Piskulic (MOST) 5-7, 7-5, (10-3)

5 – Sandra Gines (SLU) def. Silva Avakian (MOST) 6-0, 6-1

6 – Lizzie Barlow (SLU) def. Amy Henning (MOST) 6-1, 6-1

Order of finish – 5,6,3,4,2,1

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