LEBANON, Ill. – The McKendree women's rugby team went 3-0 here last Saturday as they hosted a four-team round-robin 7's tournament at Leemon Field.
 
The tournament featured Maryville University, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Southern Indiana. McKendree took the title with a 3-0 record on the day, followed by USI with two wins against Maryville and WashU to claim second place at 2-1. Maryville placed third at 1-2 with a win over WashU and WashU claimed fourth place at 0-3 for the day.
 
The Bearcats collected 98 points and held their opponents to just 25 total points in the three games. Leading scoring for the Bearcats was freshman Lavinia Ika (Kahului, Hawaii/Maui High) scoring a total of 26 points across the three games including two tries and eight conversions. Freshman Jessie Deane (St. Louis, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) also added four tries in two games to push the Bearcats to victory.
 
MCKENDREE 40, MARYVILLE 5
A tenacious Bearcat defense held the Saints to just one try in the first game of the day as McKendree posted a 40-5 victory over Maryville. Five different Bearcats scored six tries in the contest led by Ika with one try and five conversions to tally 15 points, while Deane scored two of the Bearcats' six tries for 10 points in the win.
 
Adding a try each to McKendree's 40 points was freshman Camille Ross (O'Fallon, Mo./O'Fallon), junior Madison Puffalt (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan/Athol Murray College), and junior Koran Mason-El (Godfrey, Ill./Alton).
 
MCKENDREE 29, WASHU 15
In McKendree's second game against WashU, the Bearcats outscored the Bears 29-15.
 
Freshman Elise Johnson (New Baden, Ill./New Baden) scored the first try of the game while Ross found her way her second try in two games. Freshman Rachel Staresinic (Stoney Creek, Ontario/St. John Herny Newman) made two runs to tally two tries while sophomore Kalina Anderson (Avon, Ind./Avon) posted five more points for McKendree with her try. Ika and Puffalt each added a conversion to the Bearcats' 29 points.
 
This was the second meeting of the two teams this season as the Bearcats posted a 30-5 win at WashU on Sept. 24.
 
MCKENDREE 29, USI 5
The Bearcats brought their best defense once again as they held the Screaming Eagles to only one try in a 29-5 victory. Deane tacked on two more tries, while Staresinic and freshman Anissa Ferrer (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) each scored one try. Ika rounded out her 26 points with her final try and two conversions.
 
The Bearcats will look to continue their win streak as McKendree takes on Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Saturday, Oct. 29.