MACOMB, Ill. – SIUE women's tennis took its first Ohio Valley Conference loss of the season Saturday, dropping a 4-3 match at Western Illinois.

SIUE fell to 12-4 overall and 2-1 in the OVC while the Leathernecks improved to 8-8 overall and 2-1 in the OVC.

The Cougars grabbed the doubles point early with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Amelia Gorman and Stefaniya Anikina, the reigning OVC Doubles Team of the Week, bested Nour Gueblaoui and Richardlyne Francois 6-1 at No. 1 doubles. Margaux Guibal Britt and Payton Tomichek defeated Chloe Routier and Mana Fawcett 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.

Western Illinois grabbed four singles victories for the team win, one of which was in three sets.

The Cougars collected a singles win at No. 1 as Gorman, the reigning OVC Player of the Week, topped Francois in a back-and-forth contest 6-1, 1-6, 6-2. Gorman improved to a team-leading 19-4 record in singles play.

Anikina also won a three-setter, topping Fawcett at No. 5 singles 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. That runs Anikina's singles record to 10-0 this season.

SIUE now returns home next Friday against Southeast Missouri in a 2 p.m. match. It will be SIUE's final home dual match of the season.