DURHAM, N.C. – Freshman Jasmine Gabriel earned her first collegiate dual match victory for host North Carolina Central University in a 6-1 non-conference loss to Western Carolina University Saturday afternoon.
 
The Catamounts picked up a second straight win to move over .500 on the early season at 2-1. The Lady Eagles slip to 0-2.
 
Gabriel notched her straight-set win at No. 2 singles. The Charlotte, North Carolina, product squeaked out the first set 7-5 before completing the victory with a dominating 6-1 second set over WCU senior Megan McLinden.
 
NCCU senior Aissa Muamba nearly completed a comeback win in the top draw but eventually lost to senior Stacia Kissell in three sets. Kissell – A First Team All-Southern Conference selection in 2014 – held on to win 6-4, 7-6, 6-3. Muamba trailed for most of the middle set before rallying for force a tiebreaker that she won 7-1.
 
Western Carolina won the bottom four singles matches in straight sets.
 
The Catamounts won all three doubles matches. WCU sealed the first team point with wins at second and third doubles. The top doubles draw went to a tiebreaker at 5-5 after the team point was clinched and Kissell and senior Shannon Bettiol was able to squeak out the 6-5 win over Muamba and sophomore Jamie Rogers by winning the tiebreaker 7-5.
 
NCCU next hosts UNC Wilmington on Thursday, Feb. 11 at Noon.