PITTSBURGH, PA (April 25) -- The Central Washington University women's rugby team defeated Brigham Young University 29-15 Saturday afternoon winning the Spring Championships and advancing to the National Championship game where they will face fall champion Penn State on May 9 in Atlanta, Georgia. 
 
"/it's exciting to have a chance to win a national championship," CWU Head Coach Mel Denham said. "We have to get home, recover and get to work.  We have to step up our game and play at another level to give ourselves the best opportunity to defeat Penn State. 
 
For the second straight game, the Wildcats overcame a halftime deficit and shutout their opponent to become victorious. 

Brigham Young jumped out to a 15-0 lead scoring two tries with one conversion and added a penalty kick.  Asinate Serevi got the Wildcats their lone first half score, touching down in the try zone working her way around a scrum to cut the Cougar lead to 15-7 after a Katerina Long conversion. 

"The first ten minutes we knew they were going to be physical, and BYU was able to get some quick tries," Denham explained. "But we knew it would take time and we were confident we would get back into the game"  
 
The score stayed the same heading into intermission although the Wildcats were able to win the field position battle, which gave them confidence going into the second half. 
 
"We were able to maintain possession in the first half but were unable to get points," Denham said. "We knew it would just be a matter of time before we broke them, which is what happened in the second half." 
 
The Wildcats' first second-half score came just a minute into the stanza with Long scoring on a penalty kick to put CWU to within one try of BYU at 10-15. 
 
The 10-15 battle continued for the next 20 minutes before Rosalind Pena made scored a try, and Long's second conversion of the game put the Wildcats ahead 17-15.  Three minutes later Ashley Rolsma touched down in the try zone extending the CWU lead to 22-15. 
 
Serevi helped seal the deal in the 71st minute scoring her second try of the game off an Angela Ve'Evalu feed and Long's third conversion gave the Wildcats the final 29-15 advantage. 
 
The Division I National Championship game on May 9 will be held at Kennesaw State University. Wildcatsports.com will have more information on tickets and schedule in the coming days.