SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- The Mount Holyoke College squash team fell 8-1 in a deceptively close match to Connecticut College in the Lyons' Senior Day match on Saturday, following a 6-3 loss to Northeastern University earlier in the day.

First-year Habiba Abouelatta (Alexandria, Egypt) went 2-0 on the day at the No. 1 position for Mount Holyoke (4-12), posting a 3-0 win over Northeastern's Sabrina Gribbel before coming back from a 2-0 deficit against Connecticut College's Rachel Matamoros to win 3-2 (3-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6).

Junior Xaria Durocher (Boston, Mass.) and first-year Ku Paw (Hartford, Conn.) scored points for the Lyons at the second and third positions on the ladder, respectively.

"Ku and Habiba got the team off to a great start against Northeastern," said Mount Holyoke head coach Erin Robson. "Xaria also played a solid match. We missed some good opportunities against Northeastern with several close games that could have gone our way."

Against the Camels, Abouelatta scored the Lyons' lone point. Paw took the first game in a tight 3-1 contest at No. 3 against Miranda Medina, and the Lyons were competitive at multiple other positions down the lineup.

"Conn was able to get an early lead so we lost some momentum early on," said Robson. "We are battling with injuries in the middle of the lineup, but we will match up well with teams like Conn if we can get to full strength."

The Lyons will travel to Vassar College next Saturday to face Vassar, Smith and Wellesley.

Northeastern 6, Mount Holyoke 3
Feb. 4, 2023 at South Hadley, Mass.

1. Habiba Abouelatta (MHC) def. Sabrina Gribbel (NU) 11-7, 11-9, 11-4
2. Xaria Durocher (MHC) def. Belkis Montas (NU) 11-7, 11-9, 11-4
3. Ku Paw (MHC) def. Emily O'Brien (NU) 11-5, 11-6, 3-11, 11-6
4. Caroline Beecher (NU) def. Tina Mei (MHC) 11-7, 11-8, 11-2
5. Kelsey Caldwell (NU) def. Dnyaneshwari Haware (MHC) 11-7, 12-10, 11-6
6. Gisselle Rojas (NU) def. Elba Barra Montgomery (MHC) 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7
7. Nitya Shah (NU) def. Janiqua Davis (MHC) 11-8, 11-5, 11-1
8. Karina Peak (NU) def. Paige Gershuny (MHC) 11-3, 11-8, 11-6
9. Jayrene Rodriguez (NU) def. Keying Lin (MHC) 11-3, 11-5, 11-1

Connecticut College 8, Mount Holyoke 1
Feb. 4, 2023 at South Hadley, Mass.

1. Habiba Abouelatta (MHC) def. Rachel Matamoros (CC) 3-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6
2. Ainsley Ellison (CC) def. Xaria Durocher (MHC) 11-4, 11-7, 11-9
3. Miranda Medina (CC) def. Ku Paw (MHC) 10-12, 11-4, 12-10, 12-10
4. Crystal Dixon (CC) def. Tina Mei (MHC) 11-4, 11-2, 11-8
5. Caroline Champa (CC) def. Dnyaneshwari Haware (MHC) 11-5, 13-11, 11-5
6. Kimberly Lucero (CC) def. Elba Barra Montgomery (MHC) 11-3, 11-6, 11-5
7. Tanya Mendoza (CC) def. Janiqua Davis (MHC) 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
8. Eva Ross (CC) def. Paige Gershuny (MHC) 11-4, 11-2, 11-0
9. Leslie Gonzalez (CC) def. Keying Lin (MHC) 11-3, 11-0, 11-2