BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Top-seeded Bridgewater State University edged #2 Rhode Island College, 5-4, in the championship match of the 2016 Little East Conference Women's Tennis Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.

The Bears, who captured their fifth tournament title and fourth in the current format, will now advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 2013.

BSU junior Bojana Roman (Somerset, Mass.) was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Roman was unbeaten at both second singles and second doubles in two matches during the tournament.

Bridgewater led 2-1 after the doubles competition. The Bears' second flight tandem of Roman and classmate Alison Scagnelli (Sutton, Mass.) posted an 8-6 win, while the pairing of sophomore Rachel Tarantino (Mansfield, Mass.) and freshman Angelique Gray (Osterville, Mass.) earned an 8-5 triumph at the third flight. RIC's lone doubles point came from the duo of junior Dayna Reilly (Swansea, Mass.) and senior Julie Reddy (Smithfield, R.I.) who battled to an 8-2 victory at the top spot.

The Bears captured three of the six singles matches to secure the tournament title with junior Amanda Strickland (Plymouth, Mass.) recording the decisive fifth point with a dramatic 6-4, 7-5 win at the fourth flight. Roman cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 straight set triumph at the second spot, while Gray posted a 6-3, 6-1 straight set victory at number six.

For the Anchorwomen, Reilly breezed to a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singles, while classmate Laura Nastasi (Smithville, N.J.) earned a 6-3, 6-1 straight set victory at the third flight. Senior Jorgie Martin (Greenville, R.I.) rounded out the scoring for RIC with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) decision at number five.

The Bears improve to 11-5 with the victory. The Anchorwomen end the season with an overall mark of 13-2. Both losses came at the hands of Bridgewater State.

The NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament does not take place until next spring with first round play getting underway in mid-May. Tournament pairings will be announced at a later date.