Women's Tennis Defeats Tulsa, 5-2

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 17 Oklahoma women's tennis team claimed its seventh straight victory Wednesday defeating No. 55 Tulsa, 5-2, at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman. The Sooners took the doubles point and claimed four of the six singles for victory. The Sooners move to 12-1 on the season while the Golden Hurricane fall to 9-6.

"The doubles point was key today, " said head coach Mark Johnson. "We played especially strong at No. 2 and 3 doubles and it set the tone for the rest of the match. We played hard in the singles in difficult conditions and simply got it done."

The Sooners started well by claiming the doubles point for the seventh consecutive match. At the No. 2 spot, Oklahoma's pair of Jessica Braver (Edmond, Okla.) and Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) dominated TU's Zoe Buhagiar and Lindsay Grimes, 8-3. At No. 3, OU's duo of Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) and Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) moved to 8-1 on the season with an 8-2 victory over TU's Santie Delport and Donata Majuaskaite. OU's 13th-ranked duo of Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) and Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) were upset by TU's 47th-ranked Daniela Muscolino and Ilona Somers, 8-4.

In singles play, four Sooners posted wins . At the No.1 spot, Perianu moved to 9-1 on the season with a solid 6-3, 6-4 win over TU's Muscolino. OU's Lykina won her fourth straight match dominating TU's Majauskaite, 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2. Braver and sophomore Joi-lee Beachler (Oklahoma City) also claimed key singles victories at No. 5 and No.6 singles, respectively.

The Sooners continue Big 12 action with Texas on Sat., March 27, and Texas A&M on Sun., March 28 at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center. Both matches begin at 12 p.m. and admission is free.

For more daily information on OU women's tennis, visit www.SoonerSports.com.

No. 17 Oklahoma 5, No. 55 Tulsa 2
Wed., March 24, 2004
Headington Family Tennis Center, Norman

Singles
1. Anda Perianu (#6) (OU) def. Daniela Muscolino (#75) (TU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Irina Lykina (OU) def. Donata Majauskaite (TU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Ilona Somers (#86) (TU) def. Gabby Baker (OU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Lisette Pereira (TU) def. Heather Saluri (OU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Jessica Braver (OU) def. Santie Delport (TU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Joi-lee Beachler (OU) def. Zoe Buhagiar (TU) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles
1. Muscolino/Somers (#47) (TU) def. Perianu/Saluri (#13) (OU) 8-4
2. Braver/Lykina (OU) def. Buhagiar/Grimes (TU) 8-3
3. Baker/Griffin (OU) def. Delport/Majauskaite (TU) 8-2

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