AZUSA, Calif. -- The No. 9 APU women's tennis team lost to Division I Drake 2-5 Thursday afternoon in a non-conference match. With the loss, the Cougars are now 8-5 on the season.

The Bulldogs scored first out of the gate as Megan Webb and Kelsey Neville defeated APU's Audrey Stewart and Petra Ivankovic 6-2 on court three. Drake's Daria Walczak and Carmen Palumbo closed out doubles with a 6-3 victory on court two over April Wong and Anna Savchenko. 

The Cougars entered singles with a one-point deficit.

APU continued to play with that doubles momentum as Drake's Liza Petushkova notched another point on the board with a win over Kara Hinton 6-3, 6-3 at the top spot. Jacky Wagner fell at the No. 3 spot 1-6, 4-6, while teammate April Wong lost at the No. 4 position 4-6, 3-6. At the No. 6 spot, APU's Audrey Stewart fell 3-6, 2-6 before Anna Savchenko finished shortly after at the No. 2 slot, putting the Cougars first point on the board with a 6-4, 6-3 victory. The Cougars would have the final word as Mikayla Rinker closed out the match with a 6-4, 6-5 win at court five.  

APU will return to the Munson and Bavougian Tennis Courts Friday, March 22 at 2:30 p.m. to face PacWest rival Biola for a Cornerstone Cup Rivalry Match.