SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio – The Case Western Reserve University women's tennis team battled late into the night with No. 6 nationally-ranked Denison University, but the Spartans eventually fell by a count of 5-4 on Saturday at the Cleveland Skating Club.

The Spartans (6-2), ranked 14th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Region, took the Big Red (1-1) to the limit with the final point being scored at No. 6 singles.

Denison won the first two doubles matches to open the night before the Spartans won at No. 3 with the duo of junior Emily Pham (Mason, Ohio/William Mason) and freshman Marianne Bonanno (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) defeating Courtney Steiner and Lilianna Broussalian, 8-3.

In singles play, the Spartans picked up a 7-5, 6-3 victory from Erika Lim (Fullerton, Calif./Fullerton Union) versus Sarah Short at No. 1, but the Big Red won the next two decisions at No. 2 and No. 3 to lead 4-2.

Undaunted, Case rallied back with clutch victories from freshman Alexandra Lim (Fullerton, Calif./Fullerton Union) at No. 4 and junior captain Kathleen Evers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) at No. 5.

However, with the match tied at 4-4, the Big Red scored the deciding point at sixth singles to foil the Spartans upset plans.

The Spartans continue the spring schedule with two more matches next weekend, beginning at Oberlin College on Friday, March 2 at 4:00 p.m.