In the first game of the spring season, women's rugby defeated Brigham Young University (BYU) 52-8 in D1 Elite action Saturday at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Missouri.

Despite the large margin of victory, it was the Cougars that took an early lead in the match. Pressure on the Lindenwood attack cause a penalty that BYU converted for a 3-0 advantage in the second minute. It was all Lions from there, led by Amy Brice and Freda Tafuna who put on an attacking clinic, resulting in multiple tries from each.

The first Lindenwood score came two minutes later off a scrum that led to a 40-meter strike from Brice and a 5-3 lead after the conversion failed. Then Tafuna bulldozed her way through multiple defenders in the ninth minute. Jet Metz booted the conversion to make it 12-3 in favor of the Lions.

Lindenwood added another seven points in the 18^th minute. After a Cougars knock-on, Madison Jersey scampered 40-meters after a Lions set-piece play. Metz slotted the conversion for a 19-3 advantage. Lindenwood took possession again and after assembling multiple attacking phases, Jadyn Collins connected with Lali Lafitaga for another five points, followed by a successful conversion in the 26^th minute.

With the first half clock winding down, the Lions put pressure on the BYU attack which created a turnover. Not long after, Allen dashed into the try zone in the 40^th minute. After a missed conversion, Lindenwood was able to take a 31-3 lead into the break.

The Lions continued their efficiency on offense with the forwards having a successful day in lineout set- pieces. They turned up the heat in the Cougars red zone which led to an open play for the back line. Brice took advantage for her second try of the day. The Metz conversion was good, increasing the Lindenwood advantage to 38-3 in the 49^th minute.

The next 20-minutes featured possessions from both teams, but no points. That streak ended in the 71^st minute when Tafuna did some hard work and squeezed across the line for her second score of the game and a 45-3 lead after the conversion. Six minutes later after accumulating 10-points off of her kicking, Metz added another seven to her tally with a try and conversion to make it 52-3. Playing to the final whistle, BYU forced a turnover in the final minute of the game and scored for the final margin.

Metz led the Lions with 17 points, going 6/8 on conversions and the late try.

With the victory, Lindenwood improved to 5-0 in D1 Elite action and to 7-1 overall, extending a winning streak to six in a row. After a few weeks off, the Lions will return to the pitch for the Hawkye Classic Sevens Tournament March 2 at the Hawkey Tennis & Rec Center in Iowa City, Iowa. They will host Central Washington in D1 Elite play at Hunter Stadium on March 9 beginning at 12 p.m.