March 29, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – The Southeastern Conference named USC’s Christyn Lucas SEC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week on March 29th. Lucas earned the honors after making an amazing comeback against 58th ranked Ashley Bentley. She was down 5-1 in the first set and made a rally to force a set tie-break which Bentley took 7-5. In the second set, Bentley was up 5-2 and 40-love but Lucas rallied to take the set in a tie-breaker. In the third set, Lucas defeated Bentley in another set tie-breaker to clinch the Gamecock victory over the 23rd ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

Lucas is 18-12 on the season and 9-4 in dual matches. She has won nine of her last 11 including four against ranked opponents. She is 5-0 in three-set matches and is 5-1 against SEC opponents at No. 2 singles.

The Gamecocks travel to Knoxville to take on the Lady Vols on Friday and then will travel to Athens to face the Georgia Bulldogs.