BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - The Bridgewater State College women's tennis advanced to the semifinal round of the 2008 Little East Conference Tournament as the second seeded Bears defeated seventh seeded Salem State College, 5-2, this afternoon in Bridgewater.

The Bears (11-3) will take on third seeded Rhode Island College in the tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon at 3:30.  RIC knocked off sixth seeded UMass Boston this afternoon by a score of 5-0. The semifinal round and championship game will take place at UMass Dartmouth.

Bridgewater won three out of four singles matches and two of the three doubles flights to come away with the victory.  Two of the singles matches were not completed because Bridgewater had already gained the five point total to win the match.

Sophomores Jessica Francis (West Barnstable, MA) and Danielle Linscott (Uxbridge, MA), and junior Paulina Ucher (Webster, MA) captured the three singles victories for the Bears.  All three won their respective matches in straight sets.  Francis won at third singles (6-2, 6-1), Ucher at the fifth flight (6-2, 6-0) and Linscott at number six singles (6-0, 6-0).

Junior Megan Cote (Fall River, MA) picked up the lone singles victory for the Salem State Lady Vikings (3-8) as she breezed to a 6-1, 6-1 straight set win at the first flight. Cote also teamed with sophomore Jessica Distler (Pepperell, MA) for a hard-fought 9-8 win in first flight doubles play.

Ucher and sophomore Rachel Elman (Rehoboth, MA) battled to a tough 9-8 victory at second doubles for BSC.  Junior Catarina Rosa (Fall River, MA) and senior Paula Araujo (Fall River, MA) also teamed up for an 8-4 triumph at the third flight as they improved to 9-1 in doubles play this season.