April 30, 2004

Third-seeded Oklahoma beat sixth-seeded Missouri 4-1 in the second round of the Big 12 Conference Women's Championships today. The Tigers finish the season 7-6 in the Big 12 and 14-9 overall.

The Tigers played tough doubles matches, but fell short of clinching the point. Urska Juric and Katka Sevcikova lost to Anda Perianu and Heather Saluri 8-1. Hana Kraftova and Mary Barry had a big win over Oklahoma's Irina Lykina and Jessica Braver, winning 9-7. A close, tiebreak loss from freshmen Yelena Olshanskaya and Erika Josbena at No. 3 gave the Sooners the doubles point.

In singles play, Mizzou's Juric fell to fifth-ranked Anda Perianu 6-3, 6-1 at No.1 and Olshanskaya lost to Oklahoma's Heather Saluri 6-4, 6-1 at No. 4. Mary Barry dominated Jessica Braver at No. 5, winning 6-0, 6-1, but it wasn't enough for the Tigers. A loss at No. 6 by Lucie Ruskova gave the Sooners a 4-1 win over the Tigers. Sevcikova and Kraftova did not finish their three-set matches because the match had already been decided.

The Tigers now wait to see if they get a bid to the NCAA Championships being held in May.

Singles

1. Anda Perianu (OU) def. Urska Juric (MU) 6-3, 6-1

2. Katka Sevcikova (MU) vs. Irina Lykina (OU) 6-3, 4-6, 2-1 DNF

3. Hana Kraftova (MU) vs. Gabby Baker (OU) 6-4, 4-6, 2-0 DNF

4. Heather Saluri (OU) def. Yelena Olshanskaya (MU) 6-4, 6-1

5. Mary Barry (MU) def. Jessica Braver (OU) 6-0, 6-1

6. Bethany Griffin (OU) def. Lucie Ruskova (MU) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles

1. Perianu/Saluri (OU) def. Juric/Sevcikova (MU) 8-1

2. Kraftova/Barry (MU) def. Lykina/Braver (OU) 9-7

3. Baker/Griffin (OU) def. Olshanskaya.Josbena (MU) 9-8 (4)