PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Plymouth State University put up a fight, but the Panthers' six-match winning streak came to an end as league-leading Rhode Island College earned a 9-0 win in a Little East Conference (LEC) women's tennis match at the RIC Tennis Center on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Junior Megan Marshall (Dartmouth, Mass.) battled at No. 2 singles, with freshman Elena Cardoso (Hudson, Mass.) refusing to go down without a fight at No. 6, but the four-time defending LEC Tournament champions were too strong.
 
The setback snaps PSU's six-match winning streak and drops the Panthers to 8-2 (4-1 LEC), while RIC remains unbeaten on the year at 9-0 (4-0 LEC).
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 0, Rhode Island College 9
  • Plymouth State (8-2, 4-1 LEC)
  • Rhode Island College (9-0, 4-0 LEC)

How it Happened:

• Marshall hung tight but ultimately went down, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, with Cardoso falling by 6-2, 6-4 scores.
• Freshman Tessa LaBarre (North Smithfield, R.I.) experienced her first loss to a D-III opponent with a 6-0, 6-3 decision at No. 4 singles, while senior Julie Miller (Woburn, Mass.) took a pair of games in a 6-1, 6-1 setback at No. 5.
• Junior Kira Winter (Eliot, Maine) and sophomore Sarah Asciutto (Manchester, Vt.) played at No. 1 and No. 3, respectively.
• LaBarre and Cardoso created the biggest challenge for their opponents in doubles action, going down by an 8-3 margin.
• Winter and Marshall played at No. 1, falling 8-1, with Miller and sophomore Camilla Puzio (Holden, Mass.) dropping an 8-0 decision at No. 2.

By the Numbers:

• The Panthers' only losses to Division III opponents over the last two seasons have been to Rhode Island College.
• RIC has not lost to an LEC opponent since the 2016 season.
• The two teams have met in the LEC Tournament finals in two of the last three years (2018, 2020).

Up Next:

• The Panthers head to Western Connecticut State University on Saturday (Oct. 9) for a 1:00 p.m. LEC tilt.