BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's tennis team held off Little East Conference (LEC) foe Western Connecticut State University, 5-4, on Tuesday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.

The Bears improve to 4-2 on the season and 2-0 in the Little East while the Wolves fall to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Bridgewater State is 18-2 versus WestConn since the Bears joined the LEC in 2004.

The Bears swept the doubles matches to take a 3-0 lead. Junior Madeline Von Ruden (Ashley Falls, Mass.) and graduate Mackenzie Silveira (Middletown, R.I.) recorded an 8-6 win at number one, while senior Allison Carter (Raynham, Mass.) and junior Meghan Lotti (Stoneham, Mass.) paired up for an 8-4 triumph at the second flight. Sophomore Yasmine Queen (Waltham, Mass.) and freshman Samantha Bettencourt (Tiverton, R.I.) completed the doubles sweep with an 8-6 triumph at the third spot.

In singles play, a 6-1, 6-1 straight set win by junior Cierra Kitt (Norwalk, Conn.) at the top flight got the visiting Wolves on the board. Lotti followed with a 6-3, 6-4 straight set victory at number five to give the Bears a 4-1 lead.

Western Connecticut junior Sarah Cipriano (Watertown, Conn.) earned a 7-5, 6-3 straight decision at third singles and senior Natalie Paradise (Naugatuck, Conn.) posted a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 straight set victory at number six to close the gap to 4-3.

Silveira secured the decisive fifth point for the Bears as she battled back from a set down to post a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 triumph at second singles.

Junior Diana Rebelo (Naugatuck, Conn.) rounded out the scoring for Western Connecticut with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, 6-2 win at number four singles.

Both teams are back in action on Thursday afternoon. The Bears host the Rams of Suffolk University at 3:30 while the Wolves travel to John Jay College for a four o'clock match with the Bloodhounds.