MADISON, NJ - Susquehanna University junior Tara McHugh became the first Crusader since 1979 to win the Middle Atlantic Conference women’s tennis singles championship with a straight-set victory over Lycoming’s Cricket Temple in Saturday’s finals at Drew University.

McHugh (Jeannette, PA/Hempfield Area H.S.), the tournament's top seed, won all four of her matches in straight sets and finished the season with a perfect 16-0 record to set the Susquehanna season record for singles victories. In her sixteen singles matches this season, McHugh lost just one set.

McHugh defeated Temple 6-4, 6-2 to win the championship after defeating Whitney Bull of Wilkes 6-1, 6-2 in semifinal action earlier Saturday. She is the first Crusader women’s tennis player to win the MAC singles crown since Donna Gotshall in 1979.

On Friday, McHugh broke the Susquehanna career record for victories with wins over Missy Graeff of Moravian in the second round (6-2, 6-4) and Lycoming's Meredith Moerschbacher in the quarterfinals (6-1, 6-3).

Her victory over Moerschbacher broke the record of 34 wins set from 1984-87 by Marge Guckes. McHugh finished the 2002 season with a career mark of 37-7.

The remainder of Susquehanna six-player squad was eliminated in action on Friday afternoon, as freshman Danielle Dormer (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East H.S.) defeated Colleen Leal of Albright 6-0, 6-0 in the opening round before losing to third-seeded Jennifer Genevese of Moravian 6-4, 6-0 in the second round to end the season with an 11-3 record.

In doubles, the tandem of senior Carly Kellett (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley H.S.) and sophomore Sarah Lampe (St. Marys, PA/Elk County Christian) defeated the King's team of Rita Kaluzavich and Kristen Sebastian 6-1, 6-2 before losing to top-seeded Kristy Sturtz and Kristen Carmel of Albright 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.

The Crusaders' other doubles team of senior Kelly Moritz (York, PA/York Suburban H.S.) and junior Tamara Cypress (Indianapolis, IN/Richmond H.S.) lost in the opening round to Alaina Ford and Kathy Massey of Drew in three sets by scores of 6-3, 3-6 and 7-5.