Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. - UMass Boston Women's Tennis fell into a 2-1 hole during the doubles portion of Saturday's Little East Conference match against Rhode Island College. The singles portion, which was delayed until Sunday because of rain, was a straight sweep, securing the 7-2 victory for the Beacons.

THE BASICS
UMass Boston 7, Rhode Island College 2

UMass Boston (7-1, 6-0 LEC)
Rhode Island College (9-2, 4-1 LEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Facing their toughest opponent on record, the Beacons were in a slightly unprecedented spot on Saturday. The standout freshman duo of Sandra Watson and Zainab Patel secured the first point of the afternoon for the Beacons with an 8-3 win. The experienced pair of Meagan Carney and Lydia Chan dropped their match 8-5 to even the match score at 1-1. The third and final doubles match put an end to the undefeated run of Elena Albano and Ayonna Stuppard, giving Rhode Island College a second point and the lead.

A spell of rain forced the singles matches to be pushed back a day to Sunday afternoon. Playing from the first position, Patel continued her dominant rookie season, staying undefeated in singles play with a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Albano was close behind with a 6-2, 6-3 win. Sandra Watson brought the Beacons within a point of victory, keeping pace with Patel's unblemished record. Doubles partners Chan and Carney picked up individual wins with Carney winning an extended second set. The seventh and final point of the two-day affair came in the form of a three-set victory from Stuppard.

BY THE NUMBERS

• First-year players Patel and Watson have suffered just one doubles loss each on the season and are both undefeated in singles play
• Sunday marked the first LEC loss of the season for RIC
• Though their doubles winning streak came to a close, Albano and Stuppard each extended their individual singles streak to seven straight victories
• The team has combined to surrender just five points in six conference matches
• The Beacons have won three straight matches against the Anchorwomen including their 2022 LEC championship victory

WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will travel to Bridgewater State on Tuesday afternoon for an LEC showdown with the Bears.