Feb. 2, 2005

Greenville, S.C. – The 36th ranked Gamecocks of South Carolina edged Furman with a 4-3 victory over the Lady Paladins Tuesday evening. With the win, South Carolina improved to 1-0, with Furman falling to 0-1 to open the 2005 season.

Furman gained the early momentum and a 1-0 lead, with wins in the first two doubles matches. Furman Seniors Caroline Bentley and Mary Neill Hagood defeated Fallon Koon and Miranda Gutierrez 8-6 in the No.1 slot and at No.3 Shannon Moore and Lauren Osborne downed South Carolina’s Laura Ganzer and Grace Blakely 8-6. In the third match Furman’s duo of Marti Morris and Jacqueline Eckert fell to Christyn Lucas and Magda Wojdylo 8-6.

With the Lady Paladins taking a 1-0 advantage, Furman and South Carolina split the next four matches leaving Furman with a 3-2 lead. Lady Paladin Mary Neill Hagood eased by Christyn Lucas 6-2, 6-2 at No.1 and at No.3 Furman’s Caroline Bentley downed Miranda Gutierrez 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. For the Gamecocks, Laura Ganzer defeated Shannon Moore 6-1, 6-2 in flight two and at No.4 Magda Wojdylo battled back for a 0-6,7-6(3), 6-3 victory over Marti Morris. The Gamecocks then sealed the victory with wins in the last two slots, when Fallon Koon downed Lauren Osborne 6-4, 6-3 in flight five and Justine Walsh defeated Bonnie Baird 6-3, 6-1 at No.6.

The Gamecocks return home to face Michigan on Friday at 2:30 and will host Maryland at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Singles 1. Mary Neill Hagood (FUR) def. Christyn Lucas (SC) 6-2, 6-2 2. Laura Ganzer (SC) def. Shannon Moore (FUR) 6-1, 6-2 3. Caroline Bentley (FUR) def. Miranda Gutierrez (SC) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 4. Magda Wojdylo (SC) def. Marti Morris (FUR) 0-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 5. Fallon Koon (SC) def. Lauren Osborne (FUR) 6-4, 6-3 6. Justine Walsh (SC) def. Bonnie Baird (FUR) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles 1. Bentley/Hagood (FUR) def. Koon/Gutierrez (SC) 8-6 2. Lucas/Wojdylo (SC) def. Morris/Eckert (FUR) 8-6 3. Moore/Osborne (FUR) def. Ganzer/Blakely (SC) 8-6