Site: St. Charles, Mo. (Lindenwood University)
Next DU event: Saturday, March 29 – vs. Ferris State (DU Turf Field) – 9 a.m.
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport women's rugby team picked up the wins it needed to punch a return ticket to the USA Rugby 7s Nationals in the qualifying stage at the campus of Lindenwood University last Saturday. The Panthers started the day defeating Saint Louis 27-5, host Lindenwood 24-14 and Grand Valley State 24-5 to win the pool play and receive a bye to the tournament championship, where they defeated the Lady Lions again 28-14.

Before it heads to Grand Valley State for the national pool play April 12, DU returns to 15s action again as well as return home for the final time against Ferris State Saturday at 9 a.m.
 
Game 1 – Davenport 27, Saint Louis 5
The Panthers and Billikens were greeted to low 30 degree temperatures and 30 MPH winds to start the day. Although Saint Louis struck first with their only try, Davenport responded when Joanie Marino ran for a try with four minutes left in the first half and Mercedes Clifford successfully made the conversion. After an intense defensive performance, Marino picked up the loose ball and ran for 75 yards and another conversion by Clifford gave the Panthers a 12-5 lead.
 
Davenport got one more try in before halftime. After continuing to put pressure on the Billikens defense, Makala Ferguson took the loose ball and ran for the try line. However Brittany O'Dell missed the conversion and Davenport had to settle with a 17-5 lead at the half.
 
With 5:45 left in the contest, Julia Mayer drew in two defenders and fed to Hunter Moreland, who outpaced three Saint Louis defenders for the team's fourth try. Moreland put the game out of the Billikens reach with a 75-yard run untouched into the try zone, extending the Panthers lead to 27-5.
 
Game 2 – Davenport 24, Lindenwood 14
DU saw itself trailing for the second consecutive game as the Lady Lions scored first to take a 7-0 lead. Danielle Ordway answered back by slicing through the Lindenwood defense and running all the way to the try zone. O'Dell put the Panthers in front 12-7 after running for her first try of the day and making her own conversion.
 
The Panthers were not done in the first half as Ordway added on to the lead with another try and Clifford connected another conversion to give Davenport a 19-7 lead. O'Dell added on to the comfortable lead when she received a pass from Hannah Tennant to split the post.
 
Game 3 – Davenport 24, Grand Valley State 5
Already having secured the top spot in pool play, the Panthers didn't waste any time working on the Lakers as Ordway broke away to the first try 50 seconds into the game. Clifford followed with a conversion to give Davenport a 7-0 lead. The DU defense added more pressure to the Lakers, causing a turnover and scoring on O'Dell's try. Although the conversion was unsuccessful, Davenport went into break leading 12-0.
 
Davenport added a dozen more points in the second half thanks to tries from Ordway and Courtenay Tafel. Ordway also converted Tafel's try.
 
Game 4 – Davenport 28, Lindenwood 14
After receiving a bye for going undefeated in pool play, the Panthers saw a repeat of their last meeting against Lindenwood as the Lions broke through the Davenport defense and ran to an uncontested try to start the matchup. DU turned to Ordway in the contest as the freshman tallied four tries in the game and was backed by two conversions from Clifford, one from O'Dell.
 
Women's Rugby Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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