ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Freshman Courtney Conley recorded a pair of points, including the match-winner as second-seeded Tusculum College defeated No. 3 seed Wingate University 5-1 Friday morning in a semifinal round match of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Tournament.

The Pioneers (17-3) advance to Saturday's tournament championship final as they take on top-seed Lincoln Memorial University, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Rock Hill Tennis Center. The Bulldogs end their season at 13-7.

Conley and No. 2 doubles partner Taylor Patterson posted a critical 9-8 pro set victory over the Wingate duo of Hollyn Aberghini and Samantha Alschlager. Conley and Patterson won the tie-breaker 7-4 in the final game.

TC captured two of the three doubles points as Katelyn Doss and Caroline Crowe defeated Kara Staskelis and Kelli Ferguson, 8-5 at the first flight.

Wingate captured a point at No. 3 doubles as Ewa Opala and Helen Goreski outlasted the TC duo of Blake Thompson and Megan Buckmaster, 8-6.

Tusculum made it 3-1 when Crowe defeated Goreski, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. Patterson captured TC's fourth point of the morning with her 6-2, 6-2 win over Alschlager at No. 3 singles.

Conley closed out the match with her 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles against Ferguson to send the Pioneers into Saturday's final with the Lady Railsplitters.

Tusculum and LMU each captured a share of the league regular season title this year with the Lady Railsplitters edging the Pioneers 5-4 earlier this year.

"LMU will be a good challenge for us," said Tusculum head coach Tommy Arnett. "Our regular season match with LMU was a battle and I expect the same on Saturday. It should be a very tight match between two tough teams."

Tusculum is looking for its third SAC Tournament title with the last coming in 2008.

- TC -

Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Match Results
#3 Wingate vs #2 Tusculum
Apr 23, 2010 at Rock Hill, S.C.
#2 Tusculum 5, #3 Wingate 1
Singles competition
1. Katelyn Doss (TC) vs. Kara Staskelis (WU) 3-6, 7-6, unfinished
2. Courtney Conley (TC) def. Kelli Ferguson (WU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Taylor Patterson (TC) def. Samantha Alschlager (WU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Caroline Crowe (TC) def. Helen Goreski (WU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Blake Thompson (TC) vs. Hollyn Aberghini (WU) 6-4, 3-6, 3-3, unfinished
6. Megan Buckmaster (TC) vs. Ewa Opala (WU) 2-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Katelyn Doss/Caroline Crowe (TC) def. Kara Staskelis/Kelli Ferguson (WU) 8-5
2. Taylor Patterson/Courtney Conley (TC) def. Hollyn Aberghini/Samantha Alschlager (WU) 9-8 (7-4)
3. Ewa Opala/Helen Goreski (WU) def. Blake Thompson/Megan Buckmaster (TC) 8-6
Match Notes:
#3 Wingate 13-7
#2 Tusculum 17-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (,4,3,2)
2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Tournament
#2 Tusculum advances to the championship match tomorrow at 9 a.m.