SEARCY, Ark. – Missouri State battled McNeese State on Saturday in a neutral-site match but came up short in a 5-2 loss.
 
Lucy Latham and Billur Gonlusen got the ball rolling in the doubles portion of the match in the No. 1 spot. In their second-ever match as a duo, Latham and Gonlusen defeated McNeese State's Salome Fluri and Erica Hagi, 6-4, for their first dual doubles match win as Bears.
 
Gonlusen kept it rolling into singles play at No. 4. The native of Adana, Türkiye dropped the first set against the Cowgirls' Ariane Monello Sanchis 6-1. Gonlusen came back to win the second set 6-2 to force the match into a third, which she won 6-1 for her first dual singles win at MoState. Gonlusen transferred to Missouri State after two years at Maryville where she was a staple in the DII rankings.
 
Raluca Puscas also earned her first singles win of the spring season in the No. 6 flight. Puscas, a transfer via New Orleans, won the first set 6-4 over Elena Morales Dorantes of McNeese State. She then went on to win the second set 6-2.
 
The Bears will face Harding on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. to end a five-game road trip. Live stats will be available.
   
Results
Missouri State (0-4) – 2, McNeese State (4-1) – 5
Doubles Results
1. Lucy Latham/Billur Gonlusen (MOST) defeated Salome Fluri/Erica Hagi (MNSU) – 6-4
2. Romy Pols/Nicole Ross (MOST) lost to Toffee Ghorab/Ariana Monlleo Sanchis (MNSU) – 7-6 (6)
3. Tuana Gunal/Raluca Puscas (MOST) lost to Ana Hollweg/Elena Morales Dorantes (MNSU) – 6-1
 
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
 
Singles Results
1. Tuana Gunal (MOST) lost to Salome Fluri (MNSU) – 7-5, 7-5
2. Lucy Latham (MOST) lost to Erica Hagi (MNSU) – 6-4, 7-5
3. Nicole Ross (MOST) lost to Ana Hollweg (MNSU) – 6-2, 6-1
4. Billur Gonlusen (MOST) defeated Ariane Monello Sanchis (MNSU) – 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Romy Pols (MOST) lost to Toffee Ghorab (MNSU) – 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
6. Raluca Puscas (MOST) defeated Elena Morales Dorantes (MNSU) – 6-4, 6-2
 
Order of Finish: 3, 6, 2, 4, 5, 1