JACKSON, Miss. – Alabama A&M (3-4, 3-0 SWAC) wrapped up a productive weekend at the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Pod as they earned their third victory in as many days with a commanding 7-0 win over Bethune-Cookman (0-5, 0-4 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I women’s tennis match on Sunday, February 20.
The Wildcats entered the match with only four able-bodied players, immediately giving the Bulldogs a distinct advantage. The No. 3 doubles match was automatically forfeited with freshman Deja Brown (Spring Valley, Calif.) and senior India Woods (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) picking up that victory. On the court, juniors Camila Ruiz Diaz (Asuncion, Paraguay) and Ximena D. Ramirez (Asuncion, Paraguay) secured the doubles point with a 6-0 win at the No. 2 spot.
Singles play would see the Bulldogs triple that 1-0 lead as the No. 5 and No. 6 positions were not able to be filled and were forfeited. Ruiz Diaz then locked up the match victory with a straight sets decision over Lauren McLin.
The teams would play out the rest of the match, seeing Brown notch a 6-0, 6-1 decision over Diarra Thomas, senior Jasmine Boyd (Marion, Ind.) deliver a 6-2, 6-1 win over Afrika Smith at the top spot and Ramirez earn a hard fought 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 3.
The Bulldogs return to action on Friday, February 25 when they travel to Jacksonville State. That match is slated for 11 a.m. in Oxford, Alabama.
ALABAMA A&M 7, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 0
Doubles
No. 1. Jasmine Boyd/Neha Ghare (AAMU) vs. Afrika Smith/Diarra Thomas (BCU) 2-2, unfinished
No. 2. Camila Ruiz Diaz/Ximena D. Ramirez (AAMU) def. Selene Kentish/Lauren McLin (BCU) 6-0
No. 3. Deja Brown/India Woods (AAMU) def. No player/No player (BCU), by forfeit
Order of Finish: 3, 2
Singles
No. 1. Jasmine Boyd (AAMU) def. Afrika Smith (BCU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 2. Deja Brown (AAMU) def. Diarra Thomas (BCU) 6-0, 6-1
No. 3. Ximena D. Ramirez (AAMU) def. Selene Kentish (BCU) 6-4, 6-3
No. 4. Camila Ruiz Diaz (AAMU) def. Lauren McLin (BCU) 6-0, 6-0
No. 5. Neha Ghare (AAMU) def. No player (BCU), by forfeit
No. 6. India Woods (AAMU) def. No player (BCU), by forfeit
Order of Finish: 5, 6, 4, 2, 1, 3