AZUSA, Calif. – Nearing the halfway point of the season, the Azusa Pacific women's tennis campaign is shaping up to be the best since joining the NCAA five years ago.

The Cougars posted a solid win against NCAA Division I foe Bowling Green by a 5-2 count on Thursday afternoon.

With the victory the ninth-ranked Cougars are 8-2 which is their best 10-match start since moving from the NAIA ranks five years ago. Their next chance to improve on that start comes Monday against another Division I foe when they host Lehigh.

Thursday's match was played until the team match was clinched under NCAA Division II rules

DOUBLES: Bowling Green won the first match off the courts as Paula Comella and Marharita-Sophia Tavpash tallied an 8-2 victory at the top spot.

Azusa Pacific responded well as Courtney Page and Mikayla Rinker notched a convincing 8-3 win in the third position while Toby Miclat and Kara Hinton gave their team an edge heading into singles with an 8-4 triumph.

SINGLES: Petra Ivankovic notched the Cougars third team point by winning in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) in the No. 2 slot. However, Bowling Green kept things interesting when Ayum Sasaki won 6-4, 6-0 in the No. 4 spot.

The third complete match came in three sets. Miclat lost her first set by a 6-3 count but rallied very convincingly 6-0, 6-1 for the fourth Azusa Pacific team point. April Wong clinched the match in dramatic fashion. The freshman won the first set 6-3 then battled to a tiebreaker in the second set before pulling out a 7-6 (6) victory.

Diana Baumgartnere and Jackie Resler both left their matches unfinished after the clinching win by Wong.