HAMILTON, N.Y. – Bates College women's tennis, ranked #38 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III Rankings, dropped a tough 5-4 decision Saturday at #21 Hamilton College.

The Bobcats, victorious in their previous two matches, still seek their first triumph in NESCAC play this spring (4-6, 0-4 NESCAC). The Continentals move to 6-4 overall (4-2 NESCAC) with the win.

Hamilton opened competition by winning two of the three doubles matches. Bates' lone doubles "W" came at the No. 2 position as the senior tandem of Grace Kennedy (New York, N.Y.) and Laura Littlefield (Ellicott City, Md.) defeated Shannon Cicero and Hannah Walpole by an 8-5 score.

In singles action, Ally Friedman (Jr.-East Hampton, N.Y.) and Joanna Atwater (Sr.-Short Hills, N.J.) represented the garnet and white well in the No. 1 and 2 slots, respectively.

Friedman needed three sets to push past Hamilton's Hannah Apsey, doing so with scores of 7-6 (7-1), 2-6, 6-2. Atwater erased Lauren Holtzman in straight sets (7-6 (7-4), 6-3).

Bates' final point of the contest came at No. 4 where Alexandra D'Aquino (Sr.-Weston, Conn.) topped Cicero (6-4, 3-6, 10-7).

Other results include:

Doubles
(#1) Apsey/Holtzman (H) def. Atwater/Friedman (B): 8-3
(#3) Pratt/Rainero (H) def. Lyon/Saul (B): 8-5
 
Singles
(#3) Pratt (H) def. Littlefield (B): 6-4, 6-1
(#5) Walpole (H) def. Williams (B): 6-4, 6-3
(#6) Rainero (H) def. Saul (B): 6-2, 6-3
 
Bates returns to the court Sunday afternoon with a visit to #7 Amherst College. Start time is set for 2:00 p.m.