Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

March 23, 2025 – Winning the final four singles matches to secure their 10th victory of the season, the North Central College women's tennis team defeated the University of California, Santa Cruz as Natalie Bassett won her 72nd career doubles match to set a new program standard on Sunday evening inside Naperville Tennis Club.

Bassett teamed up with Abigail Penados as the Cardinal duo cruised to a 6-1 victory over Sara Beckman and Natalie Sprenger at the top spot. The Banana Slugs took care of business at No. 2 and No. 3 to take a 1-0 lead into singles play.

UC Santa Cruz won No. 4 and No. 5 singles to extend their advantage to 3-0. With their backs against the wall, Kensington Payne put the Cardinals on the board with a 6-2, 6-3 win in the No. 3 position. Penados rolled to a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 1 before Bassett earned a comeback 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 2 to knot the contest at 3-3 with No. 6 singles remaining. Kat Herlihy battled to a back-and-forth 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win to clinch the North Central victory, 4-3.

The Cardinals head to Madison, Wis. for the annual Midwest Invitational. The two-day event begins Friday, April 4th at NielsenTennis Stadium.

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