HOUSTON (April 6, 2019) - The FIU women's tennis team dropped its first match of the weekend to No. 47 USF, as the Panthers fell on Saturday afternoon in a heartbreaker to the Bulls, 4-3. 

Saturday's match was held at the George Brown Tennis Center on Rice's campus, with the Panthers set to take on the Owls on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. 

FIU (10-6 overall, 4-0 C-USA) did not make it an easy afternoon for the Bulls (11-8 overall , 4-0 American) on Saturday however, as the Panthers fought No. 47 USF to the wire. 

As slight drizzle fell over Houston on Saturday afternoon, doubles action began to unfold. The Panthers who attempted to fight off the wind, the rain and the Bulls made close attempts but fell short of the doubles point which gave USF an early 1-0 lead. 

The sun began to shine through the cloudy, overcast, afternoon, freshman Kamila Umarova evened the match at 1-1, when she downed her Bull foe in straight-sets for a 6-1, 6-4 victory.

Senior Maryna Veksler and freshman Paulina Bakaite dropped their matches to give the Bulls a 3-1 lead to follow. Moments later, Basak Akbas fought off her opponent in a tough three-set battle, as the rookie bested her Bull foe 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to give the Panthers a hopeful 3-2 push. 

With close matches on courts four and six unfolding simultaneously, the afternoon was nothing short of a nail-bitter. Sophomore Sandra Bozinovic tied the match at 3-3 after winning her match in a three-set battle, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Minutes later and with the score at 3-3 all, junior Maria Turrillo dropped a tough third set as the Bulls prevailed over the Panthers, 4-3. 

With the loss, FIU drops to 10-6 on the season, while USF improves to 11-8 overall. 

Click here for full match results. 

UP NEXT
The Panthers will complete the regular-season slate with a conference match up on Sunday morning. FIU will take on the Rice Owls at 11 a.m. ET.