LAKE NONA, Fla. – If an experience is what you get when you don't get you want, then Bethune-Cookman's 4-3 loss to Florida A&M Thursday at the USTA National Campus qualifies.

The rivalry match saw five of the six singles matches go three sets as FAMU rallied to deny the Wildcats (4-9 overall, 1-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) a sweep of the Collegiate Series finale.

"It's amazing to have five three-setters," said BCU Head Coach Val Villucci. "Our players are playing with much more maturity then we started out. We looked season and ready to play hard. It's good to see us push this match as far as we did.

"4-3 matches can go anyway," Villucci added.

The feel-good moment of the day belonged to senior Karen Romero, who rallied from dropping her first set 6-0 to down Sophia Osabuohein 0-6, 6-3,6-4 to win No. 5 singles.

"Hopefully, we'll get another shot at them at the conference tournament," Romero said.

Romero and freshman Michelle Ncube, who won her No. 1 singles match, combined for a doubles victory. Afrika Smith and Rehaana Butt clinched the doubles point and gave BCU the early 1-0 lead.

The Lady Wildcats head to Savannah State Saturday, hoping  to clinch a MEAC tournament bid.

NOTES: Ncube improved to 8-3 with her sixth straight singles win; she and Romero have also won five straight doubles matches … The tennis split gives BCU an 8-4 lead over FAMU in the head-to-head competition this season.