NEW ORLEANS, La. | Alabama State University women's tennis advanced to the championship match of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Tournament with a dramatic 4-3 win over Alabama A&M University on Saturday at the City Park Tennis Center.

With the match tied at 3-3, senior Diana Craciun delivered the clincher on Court 1, securing a three set victory capped by a third-set tiebreak to send the No. 3 seed Hornets into Sunday's title match against No. 1 seed Jackson State Tigers at 10 a.m.

Alabama State (10-9) rallied after dropping the doubles point, winning four singles matches to claim the semifinal victory.

DOUBLES RESULTS

1. Alicia Owegi / Tstitsi Mahere (AAMU) def. Diana Craciun / Melisa Mekic (ALST) — 7-6 (8-6)
2. Gabrielle Henderson / Sofia Sotelo Raya (AAMU) def. Cleanne Pickel / Alexia Campagna (ALST) — 6-3
3. Kesmat El Tawil / Senna Van Den Heuvel (ALST) def. Melissa Mwakha / Nardine Salem (AAMU) — 6-4

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
SINGLES RESULTS

1. Diana Craciun (ALST) def. Alicia Owegi (AAMU) — 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Kesmat El Tawil (ALST) def. Gabrielle Henderson (AAMU) — 6-7 (4-7), 6-0, 6-0
3. Sofia Sotelo Raya (AAMU) def. Melisa Mekic (ALST) — 6-1, 6-4
4. Alexia Campagna (ALST) def. Melissa Mwakha (AAMU) — 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
5. Nardine Salem (AAMU) def. Senna Van Den Heuvel (ALST) — 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
6. Jovana Petrovic (ALST) def. Lavynia Vieira de Sa (AAMU) — 6-1, 6-1

Order of finish: 6, 3, 4, 5, 2, 1

After Alabama A&M secured the early 1-0 lead with wins on Courts 1 and 2 in doubles, Alabama State responded in singles play behind dominant performances from El Tawil and Petrovic, each winning in straight sets.

Campagna added a key three-set victory on Court 4 to level the match before Craciun sealed the win in a pressure-packed finish on Court 1.