MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alcorn State defeated Bethune-Cookman 4-0 in the first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) pod event of the 2024 spring season Friday afternoon at Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center. The SWAC Pod #1 event is being hosted by Alabama State.
 
Bethune-Cookman (0-7, 0-2 SWAC) forced a decisive third match in doubles play as the No. 2 pair of Jalayah Shaw and Allexii Bassette defeated Alcorn's duo of Zoe Crimmel and Natalija Nikolic, 6-3.
 
However, after Alcorn (2-5, 1-0 SWAC) claimed the No. 3 doubles position early-on, the Braves grabbed the all-important doubles point at the No. 1 spot courtesy a 7-5 decision by Doaa Mohamed and Oihane Villanueva Lopez, as the tandem narrowly defeated BCU's team of Janet Imbo Nloga and Tuhina Sambhus.
 
In singles play, several Wildcats were tied – and one player leading her contest, in the second set before the match was ultimately decided.
 
After dropping the opening set 6-0, Bethune-Cookman's Jalayah Shaw stood even with Alcorn's Nicole Kells in No. 2 play until the match went unfinished. Additionally, it was BCU's Allexii Bassette registering the first set win over the Braves' Natalija Nikolic, 7-6, while also leading the second set at 3-2 before it was unfinished.
 
Alcorn's Doaa Mohamed defeated the Cats' Janet Imbo Nloga at No. 1 singles with a 6-0, 6-0 straight-set scoreline.
 
Aanya Rao turned in a 6-0, 6-0 win from Bethune-Cookman's Courdeja Clark in No. 6 action, while the Braves made the match official with the win as Zoe Crimmel claimed the No. 5 singles point on the strength of a 6-0, 6-0 result from BCU's Loncey Elie.
 
For the Maroon and Gold, freshman Tuhina Sambhus dropped her opening singles set on court No. 3 in 6-2 fashion, only to see herself tied with Alcorn's Oihane Villanueva Lopez 3-3 before the New Zealand native's match was abandoned with the match ultimately decided.
 
The Wildcats return to action in the SWAC Pod #1 event Saturday at 10 a.m., as Bethune-Cookman takes on Prairie View A&M at Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center.
 
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COMPLETE RESULTS
Singles Competition
1. Doaa Mohamed (ALC) def. Janet Imbo Nloga (BCUW) 6-1, 6-1
2. Nicole Kells (ALC) vs. Jalayah Shaw (BCUW) 6-0, 4-4, unfinished
3. Oihane Villanueva Lopez (ALC) vs. Tuhina Sambhus (BCUW) 6-2, 3-3, unfinished
4. Natalija Nikolic (ALC) vs. Allexii Bassette (BCUW) 6-7, 2-3, unfinished
5. Zoe Crimmel (ALC) def. Loncey Elie (BCUW) 6-0, 6-0
6. Aanya Rao (ALC) def. Courdeja Clark (BCUW) 6-0, 6-0
 
Doubles Competition
1. Doaa Mohamed/Oihane Villanueva Lopez (ALC) def. Janet Imbo Nloga/Tuhina Sambhus (BCUW) 7-5
2. Jalayah Shaw/Allexii Bassette (BCUW) def. Zoe Crimmel/Natalija Nikolic (ALC) 6-3
3. Aanya Rao/Nicole Kells (ALC) def. Loncey Elie/Courdeja Clark (BCUW) 6-0