The Lindenwood Women's Rugby team (3-0, 1-0 NIRA) defeated Southern Nazarene on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 48-12. Kanani Watts and Ava Reuter scored two tries apiece to lead the Lions. 

In the first half, Lindenwood took a 12-0 lead 11 minutes into the first half behind one try each from Watts and Reuter while Joselin Roque Lopez made her seventh conversion of the season on the try by Reuter. A few minutes later, SNU responded with a try but missed on the conversion to make it a 12-5 match. Following the try by SNU, Watts scored her second try of the match at the 20th minute and Aries Popoali'i scored a try late in the half as the Lions built a 22-5 lead at the break. 

In the second half, the Crimson Storm struck first and added a conversion to cut the deficit to 22-12 . However, the Lions would not allow a try the rest of the match as Gianna Veetutu, Ashley Misch, Jasmine Fehoko, and Reuter scored a try in the second half to help the Lions improve to 3-0 on the 2026 Fall Season. Gianna Diaz added two conversions in the last 40 minutes of play to lead the Lions in that category.

"It was a great day and match to keep developing this year's team." said Head Coach Trevor Locke. "This weekend provided us with some great opportunities to continue to connect and test ourselves." 

Lindenwood will now head to Annapolis, Maryland next weekend for two matches against Navy and Brown. The Navy match is scheduled for Friday, September 25 at 12 PM CT followed by an 11 AM CT kickoff against Brown on Sunday, September 27.