ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum University sophomore Tabitha Howe has been named the South Atlantic Conference Varsity Gems Women's Tennis Player of the Week for the week of March 20-26, the SAC office announced Monday.

Howe went 3-0 in singles and doubles to help the Pioneers to SAC victories over Lincoln Memorial (7-0), Limestone (4-3) and UVA Wise (7-0), which extended Tusculum's winning streak to five straight matches.

Playing at number two singles in the Tusculum lineup, Howe opened the week with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Amanda Dahlstrom of Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday. On Friday, Howe helped a Pioneer comeback against Limestone by earning a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win over Maria Cecilia-Gomez. Howe closed the week with a 6-2, 6-2 victory on Sunday against Constanca Azinhaga of UVA Wise.

In doubles, Howe teamed with Paulina Loretz for three victories at flight one. The pair earned a 6-3 win over Lincoln Memorial's duo of Dahlstrom and Sophia Aray, then took a 6-2 win at Limestone against Cecilia-Gomez and Camila Molina Barran. On Sunday, Howe and Loretz beat Azinhaga and Antonella Campodonico by a 6-4 score.

Howe, a native of Sevenoaks, England and a second-team All-SAC singles player last season, is 10-10 in singles this season with a 5-1 mark in conference play. In doubles, Howe has an 11-9 record and is 3-2 in SAC matches.

The Pioneers, who are tied for first place in the SAC with Newberry and Wingate, will take their 10-4 record and 6-0 league mark into action Friday at Lenoir-Rhyne, beginning at 2 p.m.