SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A pair of Missouri State freshmen posted singles victories in a 5-2 dual loss at South Dakota on Thursday afternoon.
 
Romy Pols defeated South Dakota's Natalia Alves De Lima in the No. 6 spot in her first singles match for the maroon and white. Pols swept the first set 6-0, but Alves De Lima put up a fight in the second set. Ultimately, Pols won the second set 7-5 to secure her first singles win as a Bear.
 
Lucy Latham secured her first singles win of the spring just a few minutes later. Latham led the entire match against Amanda De Oliveira of South Dakota and took both sets 6-3 in the No. 2 flight.
 
Two Bears had matches that went to a third set. Billur Gonlusen won the first set against Sorcha Caves in the No. 3 spot, but Caves fought back to win the next two sets 6-2, 6-4. Sandra Lukacova dell to the same pattern in the No. 4 match. The senior played two tie breakers in the first two sets winning the first 7-6 (8) and dropping the second 6-7 (1). The final set was a to-point tie break against South Dakota's Selena Bird that ended with Bird winning 10-8.
 
The Bears will face former Missouri Valley Conference foe Creighton on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in Omaha, Neb. Live stats will be available.
   
Results
Missouri State (0-2) – 2, South Dakota (1-1) – 5
Doubles
1. Lucy Latham/Sandra Lukacova (MOST) lost to Amanda De Oliveira/Sacha Caves (SD) – 6-0
2. Bilur Gonlusen/Tuana Gunal (MOST) vs. Beata Havlickova/Grace Chadick (SD) – 5-1, unfinished
3. Raluca Puscas/Romy Pols (MOST) lost to Selena Bird/Natalia Alves De Lima (SD) – 6-1
 
Order of Finish: 1, 3
 
Singles
1. Tuana Gunal (MOST) lost to Beata Havlickova (SD) – 7-6 (5), 6-2
2. Lucy Latham (MOST) defeated Amanda De Oliveira (SD) – 6-3, 6-3
3. Billur Gonlusen (MOST) lost to Sorcha Caves (SD) – 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Sandra Lukacova (MOST) lost to Selena Bird (SD) – 6-7 (8), 7-6 (1), 10-8
5. Raluca Puscas (MOST) lost to Grace Chadick (SD) – 6-0, 6-1
6. Romy Pols (MOST) defeated Natalia Alves De Lima (SD) – 6-0, 7-5
 
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 2, 1, 3, 4