April 12, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue (4-13, 2-5 Big Ten) won the doubles point for the third time in five matches but it was not enough as No. 31 Ohio State won five of six singles and recorded a 5-2 home victory at its Varsity Tennis Center in Columbus.
Stephanie Wooten led the Boilermakers' effort with wins at doubles and singles. Wooten teamed with Brooke Beier at No. 1 to defeat Angela DiPastina and Christina Keesey, 9-7, and later topped Paloma Escobedo at No. 2 singles 6-2, 6-1.
Wooten's victories improved her singles mark to 10-7 and her doubles record with Beier to an impressive 7-5.
With their 8-5 triumph at No. 2 doubles over Julie Blackmore and Cami Hubbs (OSU), the combo of Cigdem Duru and Joanna Craven improved to 6-8 and 4-3 vs. Big Ten Conference opponents.
Purdue lost its early 1-0 lead with quick defeats at the No. 5 and 6 positions, but Wooten's victory tied it up at 2-all with Beier, Duru and Craven still left to compete.
Unfortunately, Beier lost a tightly contested match to DiPastina at No. 1 singles, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, then Christina Keesey clinched it for OSU with her defeat of Joanna Craven at No. 4, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
Duru also fell to Blackmore in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Purdue will look to rebound Sunday with an 11 a.m. dual at Indiana.