AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Norwich University women's rugby team won the inaugural American Collegiate Rugby Conference (ACRA) D-I 15s National Championship with a 32-15 win over the United States Military Academy at West Point on Sunday afternoon at Lake Myrtle Park.

Senior fullback Rose Bernheim (Mountain Home AFB, Idaho) scored two tries to lead Norwich to its fifth national championship in the last 2.5 years. Norwich has also won three straight USA Rugby College 7s national championships and won the 2012 USA Rugby D-II 15s National Championship.

Valerie McGuire (Felts Mills, N.Y.), Joya Clark (Scotia, N.Y.), Baylee Annis (Saranac Lake, N.Y.) and Riley Blankenship (Lyndonville, Vt.) each scored a try as well for Norwich which finished the fall 2013 season with a perfect 13-0 record in 15s matches.

Despite falling behind 5-0 and losing the territorial battle for the opening 20 minutes, Norwich answered back late in the second half with two tries from Bernheim to take a 12-5 lead into halftime after sophomore flyhalf Hannah Bell (Newberg, Ore.) converted on one of the two tries.

McGuire scored in the opening minute of the second half to put Norwich up 17-5 before Army battled back with 10 straight points with a try and conversion and then a successful penalty kick to cut the lead to 17-15 after 50 minutes.

However, just like in the 7s tournament, Norwich's fitness level and stamina proved to be the difference as the Cadets controlled the final 30 minutes, tacking on 15 more points with tries from Blankenship, Annis and Clark to win it 32-15.

Junior Sophie Mundell (Eagle River, Alaska) was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while McGuire, Bell, Bernheim, Clark and Annis were also named to the All-Tournament Team along with Mundell.

Norwich improved to 4-0 all-time against Army after they beat the Black Knights 48-10 earlier this season in the Northeast Women's Rugby Conference regular season.