ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico State women's tennis team fell in its Battle of I-25 match-up against New Mexico on Saturday at the Linda Estes Tennis Complex, 5-2.
 
UNM (3-11) started doubles action with a 6-3 victory over NM State's No. 2 pair.  Vanessa Valdez and Rebecca Keijzerwaard knotted things up when they bested UNM's top doubles pair 6-4. Gabrielle Joyce and Lindsay Harlas then clinched the doubles point for the Aggies (6-10) when they defeated the Lobos' duo of Cassie Chung and Ruth Copas on court No. 3, 6-4.
 
With Rimpledeep Kaur out at No. 1 singles, everyone played up a spot for the Aggies. New Mexico tied things up at 1-1 when Diana Wong bested Marie-Pier Thiffault at No. 4 singles 6-0, 6-0. Playing on court No. 3 for just the second time this season, Eli Arnaudova was ousted 6-2, 6-0 before Gabrielle Joyce fell at No. 6 singles 6-1, 6-2 – which gave UNM the 3-1 lead.
 
The Lobos captured the fourth and match-clinching point on court No. 5 when Harlas dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Rachana Bhat. Valdez earned NM State's lone singles point when she was awarded the win after her opponent had to retire with the match going into a third set on court No. 1.
 
NM State now heads home for some rest before it heads to Kansas City for the second WAC pod. Up first for the Aggies will be Grand Canyon on Friday, March 31, at 11 a.m. (MT). NM State will then play Chicago State on Saturday, April 1, at 11 a.m. to wrap up conference play.