Oct. 4, 2004

TYLER, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' All-American tennis player Rebecca Watkins and veteran McKenzie Swindle each advanced to the quarterfinals of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Southwestern Regional Championships this weekend in Tyler.

After a first round bye, Watkins defeated Leigh Pankonien of Trinity, in come-from-behind fashion, losing the first set 4-6 then coming back with a 6-1 win in the second set and a 10-6 in the pro third set. She then blanked Andrea Curry of McMurry, 6-0, 6-0 and topped Christy Austin of Trinity, 6-4, 6-1, before falling to Alicia Hunt of Trinity 6-3, 6-4.

Swindle won her first three matches all in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1; 6-3, 6-0; and 6-4, 6-1 before falling to Hayley Dittus of Trinity, 6-4, 6-3. Stephanie Haynes defeater Ashley Layton in the second round and dropped Alyssa Sidoff of Puget Sound, 6-0, 6-4. She fell to Trinity's Megan Suarez, 6-2, 6-1 in the round of 32.

Hazel de la Torre won over Leslie Jones of Schreiner in the second round after a bye, 6-1, 6-1, before falling to Hunt, 7-5, 6-2 in the third round. Tracy Henington defeated Cathleen Tousithiphonexay of Howard Payne, 6-1, 6-2, before dropping a three-setter to Becca Johnson of Louisiana College. Caroline Scott defeated Kim Lane of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 6-0, 6-1, before falling to Dittus, 6-2, 6-0.

In doubles de la Torre and Scott won a match before falling and Henington and Swindle advanced to the quarterfinals with a pair of easy wins.

Watkins and Haynes advanced all the way to the semifinals, before falling to Austin and Suarez of Trinity, 8-5. They had won their first three matches, 8-0, 8-3 and 8-6.

This competition ended the Cowgirls fall season.