RALEIGH, N.C.,- The South Carolina State University Lady Bulldogs defeated Howard University 4-1 to win the 2012 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women's Tennis Championship title on Sunday morning at Millbrook Tennis Center in Raleigh N.C. The title was the eighth consecutive and ninth overall for the Lady Bulldogs.

      In doubles action, the two teams split games with Howard winning at the number one position, 8-6, and South Carolina State winning at the number two spot, 8-2. The duo of Brooke Hawthorne and Michelle Brown topped Victoriia Khatcei and Laura Bosneag, 8-6, to earn the Lady Bison the doubles victory and first point of the day.

       Down 0-1 heading into singles play, South Carolina State earned their first point when Howard's Brooke Hawthorne retired at the number three position due to injury.

      Tied at 1-all, South Carolina State earned additional points at the number two, three and six positions.

      The Lady Bulldogs captured the 2012 women's championship title at the number one singles position with 2012 MEAC Player of the Year Suhaila Jad defeating Katelyn Stokes of Howard 7-5, 6-1. Khatcei and Bosneag were named Co-Outstanding Performers while head coach Hardeep Judge was named Outstanding Coach.

      Both Khatcei and Bosneag recorded a 2-0 record in singles play and a 2-1 mark in doubles play. Judge was named the Outstanding Coach for the eighth time in his career on the women's side.

       With the win, South Carolina State (19-0) receives the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Women's Championship. The Division I Women's Tennis Selection Show will air Tuesday, May 1 at 5 p.m. on NCAA.com

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