Feb. 23, 2002

LEXINGTON, KY. - The tenth-ranked Tar Heels lost the first half of their toughest road trip of the season Saturday, falling to the 16th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats, 5-2.

Kate Pinchbeck's quick 6-1, 6-2 win over Kentucky's Sarah Witten wasn't enough to spark a Carolina comeback after the Tar Heels lost the doubles point, 2-1. Kentucky went on to score three consecutive singles victories after Pinchbeck's to seal the win.

Lee Bairos notched the second point for Carolina when she beat Leigh Bradwell, 6-3, 6-2, but by then, the Wildcats had already clinched the victory.

The victory was the ninth on the season for Kentucky, making the Tar Heels their fifth ranked victim of the season. Strong play from 31st-ranked Carolina Mayorga in flight one and 77th-ranked Lauren Rookledge in flight three along with convincing doubles victories proved to be the key for the Wildcats.

Carolina must recuperate quickly, as the Tar Heels will face eighth-ranked Tennessee Sunday afternoon.

UK 5, UNC 2

Singles

1. #31 Carolina Mayorga, UK #32 Marlene Mejia, UNC, 6-7, 6-2, 7-5

2. #37 Kate Pinchbeck, UNC def. #44 Sarah Witten, UK, 6-1, 6-2

3. #77 Lauren Rookledge, UK def. #70 Julie Rotondi, UNC, 7-5, 6-1

4. Amy Trefethen, UK def. Aniela Mojzis, UNC, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

5. #130 Lee Bairos, UNC def. Leigh Bradwell, UK, 6-3, 6-2

6. Jill Buckley, UK def. Kendrick Bunn, UNC, 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

1. #3 Witten/Mayorga, UK def. Pinchbeck/Rotondi, UNC, 8-2

2. Mejia/ Bairos, UNC def. #60 Bradwell/Rookledge, UK, 8-6