KINGSTON, Ont.  - The Queen's women's rugby team opened up their exhibition schedule with a big 53-14 win over the visiting McGill Martlet's at Nixon Field in Kingston on Friday afternoon.

McGill was able to strike first only four minutes in as Bianca Della Porta landed a try with a conversion from Kayleigh Walsh to go up 7-0.
 
Queen's shook off the pre-season rust and scored 24 straight points with tries coming from 2013 Russell MVP Lauren McEwen (Wasaga Beach, Ont.), Samantha Ellis (Truro, N.S.), Jenna Ledson (Bolton, Ont.) and Rose Sanderson (Norwood, Ont.). McEwen converted successfully twice to make it 24-7.

Just before the half McGill struck again as Audrey Marcotte scored a try and Walsh successfully converted to cut the Gaels lead to 24-14 at half.

The second half was all Gaels as they added another 29 unanswered points. A McEwen penalty-goal three minutes in was followed by tries from Miranda Seifert (Regina), Loren Baldwin (Napanee, Ont.),  Gillian Pegg (Barrie, Ont) and Emily Groper (Ottawa). McEwen converted successfully on three of the tries and the Gaels came away with a convincing 53-14 victory.

McGill (0-1) will look to rebound when they take on Western, Saturday.

NOTES: Queen's were the OUA Champions in 2013 and won a bronze medal at the CIS Championship... Queen's beat McGill 32-24 in the bronze medal game at the 2013 CIS Championship.. McGill are the defending RSEQ Champions... Queen's was ranked in the CIS Top Ten in all eight weeks of 2013 while McGill was in seven of eight... Queen's will host the 2015 CIS Championship at Nixon Field in Kingston... Gillian Pegg, younger sister of All-Canadian Claragh, returns to the Gaels after recovering from injury in 2013.