TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State was edged 4-3 by Harding on Tuesday at the NSU Tennis Courts in a tightly contested non-conference matchup.

The RiverHawks (3-7) dropped the doubles point as Harding (7-9) swept all three matches. The No. 1 duo of Adel Ismagulova and Annika Kleinhans fell 6-1, while the No. 2 team of Lucia Bontempo and Tegan Heaton pushed their match to a tiebreaker but ultimately lost 7-6 (7-4). Harding secured the point with a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles.

In singles, NSU battled back, splitting the six matches. Heaton claimed a dramatic win at No. 1, outlasting Karli Roux 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 10-7. Sofia Kotliarova delivered another three-set victory at No. 3, winning 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 10-7. Kleinhans secured NSU's third point with a straight-set 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 4.

Harding clinched the match with victories at No. 2, No. 5, and No. 6 singles. Natalia Alvarez defeated Camila de Michele 6-0, 6-3 at No. 6, while Sofia Ruiz took down Bontempo 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 at No. 5. Adel Ismagulova fought hard at No. 2 but fell 6-4, 6-2.

The RiverHawks will look to bounce back in their next match as they return to MIAA competition on April 4 against Northwest Missouri.