Box Score
NEWARK, N.J. --- The best start to a season in NJIT women's tennis history came to a end Sunday evening as the Drexel Dragons defeated the Highlanders, 5-2, at the Naimoli Family Athletic and Recreation Facility.

"We didn't use the chances we created to win our singles matches, credit to Drexel for showing more strength than us at the decisive points," head coach Zaki Abdelrahman said of the Highlanders' performance against the Dragons.

After conceding the doubles point and falling behind 1-0, NJIT (6-1) took a 2-1 lead as freshmen Mouna Bouzgarrou (7-5, 6-1 at No. 2) and Joleta Budiman (7-6, 6-1 at No. 1) captured the top two singles matches.

The match would turn in favor of the visitors after Budiman's victory, as the Dragons went on to win the final four singles matches, including three that went to three sets after a first-set Highlander win.

NJIT will complete its six-game homestand on Friday, February 22 with a 6 p.m matchup against Seton Hall.

Drexel 5, NJIT 2

Singles competition
1. Joleta Budiman (NJIT) def. Salma Ziouti (DREX) 7-6, 6-1
2. Mouna Bouzgarrou (NJIT) def. Ghita Benhadi (DREX) 7-5, 6-1
3. Katka Majorova (DREX) def. Holly Matson (NJIT) 6-3, 6-3
4. Anisiya Simpson (DREX) def. Mayar Eltony (NJIT) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Marta Martinez (DREX) def. Shamika Dhar (NJIT) 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. C. Corte Gonzalez (DREX) def. Rafaella Sampaio (NJIT) 0-6, 6-3, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Holly Matson/Joleta Budiman (NJIT) def. Ghita Benhadi/C. Corte Gonzalez (DREX) 6-1
2. Anisiya Simpson/Salma Ziouti (DREX) def. Mouna Bouzgarrou/Rafaella Sampaio (NJIT) 6-2
3. Katka Majorova/Marta Martinez (DREX) def. Advaita Saravanan/Shamika Dhar (NJIT) 6-2

Match Notes
Drexel 5-4
NJIT 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,1,4,3,6,5)