NEWARK, N.J. ­– The Rutgers University-Newark women's tennis team nearly knocked off Kean University Thursday night on The Golden Dome Courts, ultimately suffering a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Cougars.
 
A year after falling 9-0, the Scarlet Raiders (1-4, 0-2 NJAC) pushed their conference rival the distance and are showing steady improvement with each match.
 
"It was definitely a tough loss, but this was big for us in that it showed the team what we can do," said Head Coach Tom Battaglia. "I think we are starting to see we can compete with anybody and that's exciting."
 
After doubles play it was 2-1 in favor of Kean (2-1, 1-0 NJAC), with Rutgers-Newark picking up a point out of the No. 2 slot. Marthalyn Johnson and Jessica Smoot, won 6-4.
 
Bryanna Thaxton and Nell Karpinski (No. 1) and Jamie Lee Buhain and Julibeth Hernandez (No. 3) combined to win five games in the other doubles match.
 
Kean was able to clinch the victory in No. 5 singles action as Anna Chan edged out Buhain in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 marathon.
 
Johnson and Smoot took points at No. 1 and No. 2 singles as Johnson won 6-3, 6-2 and Smoot came out on top 6-4, 7-6.
 
The final Newark point of the night came from Karpinski in the fourth slot, rolling 6-0, 6-2.
 
Smoot went 2-0 on the day to lead the Scarlet Raiders in a match that lasted three hours and 50 minutes – the longest of the year.
 
Rutgers-Newark will return to the courts on Wednesday at William Paterson University.
 
Kean University 5 (2-1, 1-0 NJAC), Rutgers-Newark 4 (1-4, 0-2 NJAC)
September 8, 2016 
Newark, NJ | Golden Dome Courts
 
Doubles Play
1. N. Hinton/R. Hughes (K) def. B Thaxton/N. Karpinski (R), 8-4
2. M. Johnson/J. Smoot (R) def. A. Peterson/A. Chan (K), 8-2
3. E. Kopp/A. Mendez (K) def. J. Buhain/J. Hernandez (R), 8-1
 
Singles Play
1. Johnson (R) def. Hinton (K), 6-3, 6-2
2. Smoot (R) def. Mendez (K), 6-4, 7-6 (8)
3. Hughes (K) def. Thaxton (R), 6-2, 6-3
4. Karpinski (R) def. Peterson (K), 6-0, 6-2
5. Chan (K) def. Buhain (R), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2*
6. Kopp (K) def. Hernandez (R), 6-2, 6-4
 
Time: 3hr 50min | Attendance: 39