OMAHA, Neb. – Missouri State's Lucy Latham celebrated her birthday with a victory at No. 2 singles during the Bears' 5-2 loss at Creighton on Saturday.
 
Latham, a freshman from Tulsa, Okla., took the first set 6-2 against Creighton's Valerie Negin. The second set came even quicker for Latham with a 6-0 win. It only took 57 minutes for the freshman to best her opponent and earn her second straight win of the spring season.
 
Fellow freshman Romy Pols also gets another one in the win column after Creighton's Annika Elvestrom was forced to retire during the match.
 
Missouri State went into singles play at a disadvantage. After losing the doubles point, MoState forfeited the No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches to put Creighton up 3-0- and 1-point shy of the win. The Bears were able to battle and claim two points, but ultimately lost the match.
 
The Bears will continue their stretch of road games next weekend with a trip to Searcy, Ark. to face McNeese State on Saturday and Harding on Sunday.
   
Results
Missouri State (0-3) – 2, Creighton (1-1) – 5
Doubles
1. Lucy Latham/Sandra Lukacova (MOST) lost to Valerie Negin/Biana Rademacher (CU) – 6-2
2. Tuana Gunal/Billur Gonlusen (MOST) lost to Ana Paula Martinez/Olivia Minikel (CU) – 6-2
3. Romy Pols/Raluca Puscas (MOST) vs. Alem Cote/Karli Vo (CU) – 2-5, unfinished
 
Order of Finish: 2, 1
 
Singles
1. Tuana Gunal (MOST) lost to Bianca Rademacher (CU) – 6-0, 3-0 by retirement
2. Lucy Latham (MOST) defeated Valerie Negin (CU) – 6-2, 6-0
3. Billur Gonlusen (MOST) lost to Ana Paula Martinez (CU) – 6-4, 6-4
4. Romy Pols (MOST) defeated Annika Elvestrom (CU) – 1-0 by retirement
5. Creighton wins by default
6. Creighton wins by default
 
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 2, 3