HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of New Orleans women's tennis team nearly overcame their disadvantage of having just four players, falling 4-3 to Southern Mississippi on Wednesday afternoon at the USM Tennis Courts.

The short-handed UNO (1-3) began the dual against USM (3-4) by dropping the doubles' point.

The two teams split the contested matches with the Privateer pair of Kristina Martic and Sofija Karalic defeating Zoe Lee and Shannon Rogers 8-7 (5) at the No. 2 position after Asa Bengtson and Stephanie Dellocono downed Amber Garza and Kozue Matsumoto 8-3 at No. 1.

The Golden Eagles won the doubles' point by virtue of a walkover at No. 3.

In singles' play, the Privateers posted three wins.

Martic defeated Dellocono 6-4, 6-3 at No. 2 with Karalic walking off the court victorious at No. 4 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Alex Bradley. Garza rounded out the trio of wins with a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-4, 10-3 win at No. 3 over Shannon Rogers.

With singles' victories at No. 5 and No. 6 in hand due to walkovers, USM needed a lone singles' win at No. 1 with Bengtson defeating Matsumoto 6-3, 6-3 in to pick up the dual victory.

The Privateer women will next take to the court on Friday, Mar. 4 at 2 p.m. when they face Spring Hill.

Southern Miss 4, University of New Orleans 3

Feb 23, 2011 at Hattiesburg, Miss. (USM Tennis Courts)

Singles competition

1. Asa Bengtson (USM) def. Kozue Matsumoto (UNO-W) 6-3, 6-3

2. Kristina Martic (UNO-W) def. Stephanie Dellocono (USM) 6-4, 6-3

3. Amber Garza (UNO-W) def. Shannon Rogers (USM) 3-6, 6-4, 10-3

4. Sofija Karalic (UNO-W) def. Alex Bradley (USM) 7-5, 6-2

5. Frances Askew (USM) def. No player (UNO-W), by walkover

6. Zoe Lee (USM) def. No player (UNO-W), by walkover

Doubles competition

1. Asa Bengtson/Stephanie Dellocono (USM) def. Amber Garza/Kozue Matsumoto (UNO-W) 8-3

2. Kristina Martic/Sofija Karalic (UNO-W) def. Zoe Lee/Shannon Rogers (USM) 8-7 (7-5)

3. Frances Askew/Alex Bradley (USM) def. No player/No player (UNO-W), by walkover