Lander attending their very first state championship looked to make a statement, and oh boy did they in their first match against Clemson scoring 36 and giving up zero. Landers defense continues to be the focal point of the team, led by junior Jessica Burt who time after time put in hit after hit, drawing oooohhhhs and aahhhsss from the home crowd.

Scoring

Tries

Jessica Burt ('23) (3)

Bailey Burt ('22) (1)

Erin Wholey ('22) (1)

Sha-Lea Davison ('25) (1)

Conversions

Julia Anhalt ('22) 2 out of 4

Bailey Burt ('22) 1 out of 1

Next up was The Citadel, which turned out to be another massive defensive effort, winning the game 34-5. The power of the Lander team was unmatched after massive runs by Bailey Burt and the sure hands of Senior Paige Wisebaker commanding the attack. The set piece and attack platform set the Bearcats apart in this one.

Scoring

Tries

Jessica Burt ('23) 2 (5)

Bailey Burt ('22) 2 (3)

Erin Wholey ('22) 1 (2)

Sha-Lea Davison ('25) 1 (2)

Conversions

Julia Anhalt ('22) 1 out of 4 (3/8)

Bailey Burt ('22) 1 out of 2 (2/3)

Semi Final vs Coastal Carolina

This is the first time the Bearcats have faced Coastal Carolina and they were excited to play a new opponent. The Bearcats were lead onto the field by a Bagpiper who was playing Scotland the Brave, which set the tone for what turned out to be a bone crunching affair with several big

hits for both teams. The scoring started when on the opening kickoff the Lander defense put loads of pressure on Coastal causing them to turn it over and after several phases Jess Burt found Erin Wholey on the outside for the score. The next score happened when the Bearcat defense again was pressuring Coastal into another turnover and after what seemed like an eternity, but was actually only 1 minute, Anhalt caught an errant pass and after bobbling it for a few seconds secured the ball and offloaded it to Jessica Burt for the score and after a successful conversion the bearcats lead 12-0. Coastal would not be kept off the board after a rare defensive miscue by Lander, Coastal was able to put together a couple nice attacking phases and found their wing for a Coast score, Landers lead was cut to 12-5. On the ensuing kickoff Bailey Burt made a thunderous run the caused play to stop for an injury to the Coastal team. The restart to Lander turned into a 7 phase attack that lasted over 1 minute and a half but ended when Coastal bunched up in the middle of the field and Jess Burt found Erin Wholey for a try on the outside. Lander Leads 17-5. The next score was an entertaining one as Wholey made a massive tackle and former roommate Anhalt stole the ball away from the Coastal attacker, which lead to several attacking phases ending with Jess Burt scoring under the posts. Lander Lead grows to 22-5. 1 minute later after a massive run by Bailey Burt, Coastal committed a penalty, Lander quick tapped the ball and got into Julia Anhalts hands who scored under the posts, she kicked her own conversion to extend the lead to 29-5. With no time left on the clock Coastal was knocking on the Lander goal line but a spinal tingling hit by Jess Burt turned the ball over to Lander, Kaylynn Hamby ('24) recovered the ball and ran 20 meters before passing it off to Erin Wholey for the score and her first Hat trick!!!! After a successful conversion Lander wins 36-5.

Scoring

Tries

Wholey 3 (5)

J. Burt 2 (7)

Anhalt 1 (1)

Conversions

Anhalt 3 out of 5 (6/13)]

On to the Finals vs University of South Carolina

USC was having a tremendous day on the pitch and looked to be a major challenge for the Bearcats. USC had several fast players and really good defense all day. Coach Pape would have to find a way to stifle the quick attack and vicious defense from the Gamecoacks. Lander did find a way with a ferocious defense and punishing attack keeping the Game Cocks on their heels all day. The scoring got started when Kaylynn Hamby found Bailey Burt at the Lander 40, Bailey Broke throught the line through a string of stiff arms and scored from 60m out. A minute later after a turnover created by the Lander forwards Wisebaker found Anhalt who found Jess Burt who found Erin Wholey who juked a defender and score for 40 meters out after a

successful conversion Lander increased their lead to 12-0. Once again the Lander bend don't break defense lead by Jessica Burt stopped a sure USC try when Burt stalked her prey and decleated the Gamecock wing and stole the ball. The ensuing series of plays lasted just under 2 minutes ending after several punishing runs by the Bearcats softened the defense and Anhalt found Jess Burt in the middle of the field who then ran 50m for the score the conversion was good and the Bearcats no lead 19-0. The Gamecocks mounted another massive attack but was crunched down the sideline by Jess Burt who again stole the ball and Paige Wisebaker found the ball and Bailey Burt who ran it 60m for a try and after another successful conversion Lander leads 26-0. Lander kept the defensive pressure up and stole the ball away from USC and after several phases Abigail Melton ('23) found Bailey Burt and she ran it in from 30m out for the score after another successful conversion bearcats now lead 33-0. 1 minute later USC kicked the ball for field position Jess Burt ran over kicked the ball up to herself in an impressive display of athleticism and ran it in from 60m out for the score and after a successful conversion, Lander now leads 40-0. The game ended and the celebration began. Bailey Burt was named tournament MVP.

Scoring

Tries

Bailey Burt 4 (7)

Erin Wholey 1 (6)

Jessica Burt 2 (9)

Conversions

Anhalt 4 for 7 (10/20)