(O'FALLON, Ill., Feb. 1) – The McKendree University women's water polo team opened its 2020 season with a 23-8 victory over visiting Wittenberg University. Junior Emily Westlove (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central High School) led the charge with six goals in the game.
 
The Bearcats will look to start the season 2-0 on Sunday at 9:00am against Lindenwood.
 
Wittenberg struck first in the opening minute of the game but McKendree fired back with nine unanswered goals in the period. Westlove, senior Brianna Mullalley (Chula Vista, CA/Eastlake High School), and freshman Lindy Justice (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada/Vimy Ridge Academy) each found the back of the cage twice. Sophomores Abby Kishimoto (Yucaipa, CA/Yucaipa High School), Maddy Bolton (Alta Loma, CA/Los Osos High School), and freshman Delaney Hall (Napoleon, OH/Napoleon High School) were the others to score in the period.
 
In the second period, McKendree continued its streak with four more unanswered goals to take a 13-1 lead six minutes into the period. Mullalley and Westlove each scored twice to bring their scoring totals to four. The Tigers ended the streak with consecutive goals to bring the deficit to 11. Sophomore Abigail Burton (Chino, CA/Chino High School) countered back with two goals to push the lead back to 13, giving the Bearcats a 15-3 lead at halftime.
 
The Bearcats scored seven more times in the third period. Freshman Katelyn Rodrigue (Brentwood, CA/Heritage High School) scored her first two goals as a Bearcat in the period. Westlove added in two more to bring her total to six on the game. Bolton, Burton, and freshman Shoshana Scanlon (Orlando, FL/Olympia High School) scored the other three goals in the period. McKendree took a 22-5 lead into the final period.
 
Sophomore Erin Haff (Memphis, TN/Saint Benedict at Auburndale) scored the lone goal for the Bearcats in the final period. Wittenberg scored three times but McKendree would go on to win 23-8 in the 2020 season opener.