The Northwestern women's tennis team won the Big Ten Tournament with a 4-3 win over Michigan on Sunday afternoon. It was the program's 16th season in a row winning the Big Ten regular season and/or the tournament title.
Northwestern, who lost to Michigan in the regular season, came into the tournament as the conference's second seed and ranked 16th in the nation. That 4-3 defeat in Ann Arbor was the Wildcats' only regular season loss during Big Ten play.
After falling at No. 2 and No.3 doubles, Northwestern conceded the doubles point, meaning the team would have to win four of the six singles matches to take the title.
Michigan pushed its lead to 2-0 after Emina Becktas came back to beat Veronica Corning at No. 1 singles 2-6, 7-5, 6-0. Then, Northwestern's Alicia Barnett won in three sets at No. 3 singles, but Michigan still maintained its lead with Brooke Bolender's 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Manon Peri at No. 4.
Now up 3-1, all Michigan needed to win was a win at either No. 2, No. 5 or No. 6.
Northwestern's Lok Sze Leung took a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Amy Zhu at No. 5 singles, keeping the Wildcats in it.
In a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 win at No. 6, Northwestern's Nida Hamilton evened the championship at three leaving both teams in need of a win at No. 2.
Northwestern's Belinda Niu won the first set 6-1 over Michigan’s Ronit Yurovsky. Yurovsky then came back in the second set to tie the match at a set all with a 7-6 win. In the third set and down 5-2, Niu fought off multiple match points and rallied to take the decisive set for a 6-1, 6-7, 7-5 victory, leading Northwestern to the conference title.