Box Score

Newburgh, NY (Oct. 13, 2012) – Saturday's rematch of the 2011 Skyline Conference women's tennis semifinals came down to the wire this afternoon in Newburgh.

The host Mount Saint Mary Knights edged the traveling Purchase Panthers, 5-4, in another classic matchup. Unfortunately, Purchase came up on the short end of a close finish. MSMC remains unbeaten on the year, albeit pushed to the brink by Purchase at home today – in very reminiscent fashion. The Mount improved to 8-0 overall (4-0 Skyline Conference), while the Panthers drop back to 6-3 overall (2-2 Skyline).

The Mount took two of the three doubles points to take an early lead. MSMC's No. 1 Gabriela Murphy-Goldberg claimed a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singles and Morgan Holbrook was equally impressive in a 6-1, 6-2 win at second.  The match would be decided, however, by rookie Breanna Scott. Scott came through with a clutch 6-3, 6-4 win at sixth singles to provide the fifth and clinching point for the Knights.

Purchase's three, four and five singles players earned wins, and the tandem of Melissa Siller (SO/Roslyn Heights, NY) and Chelsea Quinn (JR/Southold, NY) continued their impressive fall in doubles, taking the third spot to keep the visitors in the match. Siller and Quinn also grabbed singles win. At No. 3, Siller won a three-set thriller, taking the tiebreaker, 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-5). Purchase's Ashley Bernhardt (JR/Bethpage, NY) defeated Jillian Torre 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4, and Quinn won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 5.  

MSMC slipped past Purchase in the semifinals of last fall's league tournament and went on to win the championship crown. The defending champion Knights are currently in first in conference play, but the Panthers are not far behind, challenging for one of three remaining playoff spots.

Purchase has two conference matches remaining in the regular season before the Skyline playoffs open at the end of this month. 

-MSMC Sports Information Contributed to this report