BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The defending champion and top-seeded Bridgewater State University women's tennis team advanced to the Little East Conference Tournament championship game for the fourth straight season as the Bears downed fourth-seeded UMass Dartmouth, 5-2, on Saturday afternoon.

Bridgewater (12-1) will now host number two seed Salem State University in the title match at a time and date to be determined.  The Little East Tournament champion will advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament which takes place in May.

The Bears held a 2-1 lead after doubles play as the number one pairing of sophomore Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) and junior Ashley Pereira (Assonet, Mass.) posted an 8-2 win, and the second flight combination of senior Bridget Murphy (Mattapoisett, Mass.) and junior Julie Kraby (Wrentham, Mass.) also came away with an 8-2 victory.

Freshman Melissa Flynn (Stoneham, Mass.) upped the lead to 3-1 with a 6-0, 6-0 straight set triumph at sixth singles. 

After freshman Hannah Schulze (Chelmsford, Mass.) pulled the Corsairs to within one with a 6-1, 6-2 fifth singles win, Murphy grabbed a 6-2, 6-3 straight set decision at the second flight to give BSU the 4-2 advantage.

Williamson then closed out the match with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at the top flight to send the Bears to the conference title game.

UMass, which also received a third double win from Schulze and junior Liz Girczyc (Attleboro, Mass.), ends the 2011 season with an overall record of 9-5.