INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – The 52nd-ranked women’s tennis team dropped a 4-0 contest to 48th-ranked USC Saturday at the BNP Paribas Collegiate Challenge Presented by Oracle at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
The Bears fell behind early in doubles as Elizabeth Profit and Theresa Van Zyl lost a 6-0 decision on court three to Rianna Valdes and Jessica Failla.
BU roared back in to contention for the opening point with the 17th-ranked pairing of Blair Shankle and Kiah Generette disposing of eighth-ranked Giuliana Olmos and Gabby Smith, 6-2, at the top of the lineup.
With the doubles point left to be decided on court two, the Bear pairing of Rhiann Newborn and Karina Traxler held a 6-5 lead. However, USC’s Madison Westby and Zoe Katz forced the match into a tiebreaker and then rolled to a 7-2 victory in that to capture the opening point 7-6 (2).
In singles, the Bears failed to get any momentum back dropping the first three singles matches.
Returning to the singles lineup for the first time since Jan. 30, Kelley Anderson lost to 90th-ranked Smith, 6-1, 6-2, at the No. 4 spot.
Next, Van Zyl came up short against No. 111 Valdes, 6-2, 6-1, on court six.
The Trojans completed the shutout when Generette was unable to pull the upset over 25th-ranked Olmos, 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 1 spot.
When the match wrapped, Newborn held a 6-2, 6-5 advantage over 101st-ranked Westby at the No. 2 spot and had three match points.
NOTABLES
• Baylor now trails the all-time series against the Trojans, 3-2.
• The win moves USC’s record to 7-4.
• The loss drops Baylor to 5-11.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Bears will now return home to host a doubleheader against Prairie View A&M and Northwestern. Baylor will face PVAMU at 10 a.m. and Northwestern at 5 p.m. at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco on Wednesday.
