NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- The UMass Dartmouth women's tennis team captured the 2008 Little East Conference Tournament championship as the Corsairs defeated Bridgewater State College, 5-3, in the tournament title match.

Senior Allison DeAngelis (Milford, MA) and sophomore Blair Dalrymple (North Attleboro, MA) came from behind to defeat junior Catarina Rosa (Fall River, MA) and senior Paula Araujo (Fall River, MA) at number three doubles and the Corsairs then won three of the first five singles matches completed to knock off the Bears. The teams split the first two doubles matches, and DeAngelis and Dalrymple overcame a 5-4 deficit and won the last four games of the eight-game pro set.

The victory allowed the Corsairs to earn the LEC's automatic qualifying berth into next spring's NCAA Division III Championships. The match was terminated as soon as one team accumulated enough points to win.

Sophomore Amy Lopes (Dartmouth, MA) defeated sophomore Rachel Elman (Rehoboth, MA) at number one singles, 6-0, 6-0, to give the Corsairs a 3-1 lead, but the Bears promptly tied the match. Rosa defeated DeAngelis at number four singles, 6-1, 6-2, and junior Paulina Ucher (Webster, MA) downed sophomore Alexa Fiorita (Reading, MA), 6-3, 6-1, to tie the score at 3-3.

Freshman Kelsey Grossmann (Holliston, MA) untied the score when she defeated sophomore Jessica Francis (West Barnstable, MA) at number three singles, 6-2, 6-2, but the matches at number two and number six singles both went to a third set. Dalrymple defeated the Bears' sophomore Danielle Linscott (Uxbridge, MA) at number six singles, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 to clinch the verdict.

The Corsairs, who improved to 15-1 with the victory, earned their first LEC championship since 1998. BSC ends the 2008 season with a record of 12-4.  UMass will learn their fate when the NCAA tournament field is announced next May 4th, and they will begin play in a first round match on May 8th.