(GENEVA, Ohio, April 26) – The McKendree University women's water polo team opened the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championships with a 14-9 loss to Fresno Pacific University on Friday afternoon. The Bearcats will now face Mercyhurst University at 9a.m. ET on Saturday.
 
The Sunbirds jumped ahead quickly in the first period taking a 5-0 lead after the opening eight minutes of play. Westlove scored consecutive goals to put McKendree on the board while cutting the Fresno Pacific lead to 6-2. Mullalley chipped in her first to shorten the lead to three. The Bearcats would trail 7-3 heading into halftime.
 
McKendree mounted a comeback in the third period, putting six balls in the back of the net. Mullalley notched three goals in the period to push her scoring total up to three. Westlove buried two goals, tying her with Mullalley with four goals. Freshman Mikayla Davis (Flower Mound, TX/Flower Mound High School) chipped in the final goal for the Bearcats as they were defeated 14-9 by Fresno Pacific.
 
Freshman Danielle Borelli (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School) facilitated the offense, dishing out three assists. Five Bearcats recorded two steals while racking up 12 total takeaways.
 
In the cage, freshman Isabella Strimling (Brentwood, CA/Heritage High School) and junior Kim split time as Strimling played the first period and Fay came on in relief to play the final three periods.