(WASHINGTON, Penn., Feb. 23) – The McKendree University women's water polo closed out the Washington and Jefferson Invite with games against the Virginia Military Institute and Grove City College. The Bearcats opened the day with a close 12-9 loss to VMI and closed the day with an 18-7 win over Grove City.
 
McKendree sits at 4-6 overall after the weekend and 0-1 in Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) play.
 
In the rematch against VMI, the Bearcats were led by junior Emily Westlove (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central High School) who poured in four goals to pace the offense. Sophomore Maddy Bolton (Alta Loma, CA/Los Osos High School) followed up with two and senior Brianna Mullalley (Chula Vista, CA/Eastlake High School), junior Alaina Johnson (Mason, OH/William Mason High School), and freshman Lindy Justice (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada/Vimy Ridge Academy) added in single goals.
 
Mullalley was a key component in guiding the offense, tossing out two assists. Bolton, Johnson, and freshman Delaney Hall (Napoleon, OH/Napoleon High School) also recorded helpers.
 
In the cage, sophomore Isabella Strimling (Brentwood, CA/Heritage High School) made 10 saves, recording one steal and one assist.
 
Against Grove City, 10 different Bearcats found the back of the cage. Mullalley led the game with four and Westlove, and sophomore Abigail Burton (Chino, CA/Chino High School) followed with three scores. Freshman Katelyn Rodrigue (Brentwood, CA/Heritage High School) netted two goals while Johnson, Hall, sophomores Mikayla Davis (Flower Mound, TX/Flower Mound High School), Carley Manuel (Lantana, TX/Guyer High School), Danielle Borelli (Laguna Beach, CA/Laguna Beach High School), and freshman Alivia Garcia (Buena Park, CA/Kennedy High School) contributed a single goal apiece.
 
Westlove also led in assists, recording five and Hall recorded four. Mullalley, Bolton, Manuel, sophomore Abby Kishimoto (Yucaipa, CA/Yucaipa High School), and sophomore Lili Castillo (Santa Barbara, CA/Santa Barbara High School) had one assist each.
 
Strimling dominated in the cage, making 15 saves, recording two assists and one steal.