DAHLONEGA - With the match on the line, Rafaella Villanueva won three straight games to give the No. 15 University of North Georgia women's tennis team a 4-3 win over No. 23 Tusculum Saturday at the UNG Tennis Complex at Yahoola Creek.

The Pioneers took the doubles point after a pair of 6-3 wins on the top two lines. North Georgia drew even with a Cibeles Zuddy 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 2 singles. Tusculum won the next two matches, winning at No. 3 in straight sets before the top line in a three-set match, forcing UNG to win the final three.

Johanna Lippert got the comeback started with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 6 singles to cut the lead to 3-2. Just moments later, Claudelle Labonte Frey claimed a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win on the No. 4 line, setting up a winner-take-all at No. 5.

Villanueva won the first set, 6-1, but fell behind, 4-3, in the second set. The junior proceeded to win the next three games to clinch the win for UNG.

North Georgia will open Peach Belt play at Lander Friday at 2 p.m.