The Braves return 19 players from its 2022 NAIA Women's Flag Finals Championship. That includes KCAC Defensive Player of the Year,
Abby Brown and KCAC Co-MVP,
Madysen Carrera. Complete list of returners:
Hope Humes,
Bailey Hodgins,
Alyssa Linkous,
Hailee McKay,
Alyssa Gillespie,
Addison Orsborn,
Nina GraveDePeralta,
Abby Brown,
Hannah Serquina,
Jazlyn Camacho,
Kimberly Ibarra,
Courtney Wille,
Madysen Carrera Mandolyn Scalisi,
Faron Malouff,
Dakota Darby,
Randrea Gamble, and
Hayden Oaks.
Ottawa has added seven newcomers to its roster: five freshmen, one junior, and one senior. Newcomers:
Jukanie Washington (Fr. | Decatur, Ga.),
Mya Quinn (Fr. | Boca Raton, Fla.), Susan Kaufmann (Jr. | Staten Island, N.Y.),
Tatiana Dos Santos (Fr. | Panama City, Panama),
Lauren Clark (Fr. | Austin, Texas),
Madisen Berg (Fr. | Henderson, Nev.),
Dejonice Parris (Sr. | Hollywood, Fla.).
As a team last season, the Braves averaged 34.3 points per game while holding opponents to 11.1 points per game. Ottawa's offense averaged 295.9 yards per game and scored 93 touchdowns. That is an average of 7.2 yards per play.
Madysen Carrera led OU in rushing with 859 yards. She scored 18 touchdowns. Carrera also led the Braves in passing, finishing the season with 3,597 yards and 54 touchdowns. She completed 71.6 percent of her passes and averaged 211.59 yards through the air per game.
Alyssa Linkous and
Addison Orsborn led the Braves with 74 receptions in 2022. Linkous had 1,070 yards receiving, had 17 touchdowns, and averaged 59.4 receiving yards per game. Orsborn finished the season with 683 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Jazlyn Camacho had 69 receptions for 825 and 15 touchdowns.
Abby Brown led the defense with 94 tackles. She had two sacks, seven interceptions, and 18 pass break ups. Brown's last interception of the season sealed the win for the Braves in the NAIA championship game.
Alyssa Gillespie had 60 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and 11 pass break ups.
Hannah Serquina had 53 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and five pass break ups.
Addison Orsborn was named MVP of the NAIA Women's Flag Finals Championship.
Madysen Carrera,
Alyssa Linkous,
Hailee McKay, and Orsborn were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Saturday is the ninth meeting between Ottawa University and Kansas Wesleyan University. The Braves lead the series 8-0. Ottawa is 2-0 on Gene Bissell Field. The first meeting between the two teams happened on Feb. 28, 2021. OU won the game 38-6. The Braves and Coyotes met four times last season, three times during the regular season and once in the KCAC Tournament. Ottawa won all four meetings.
Kansas Wesleyan University finished last season with an overall record of 11-8 and a second place finish in the KCAC with a record of 6-2.
The Coyotes welcome new head coach Melinda Nguyen. She competed in flag at the University of Maryland and played professionally that included a stint with the Vietnamese National Team.
KWU returns KCAC Co-Player and Offensive Player of the Year, Brianna Hernandez-Silva. She threw for 1,127 yards and 20 touchdowns. Hernandez-Silva rushed for 622 yards and eight touchdowns. She averaged 218.6 total yards per game.
Angel Roman and Ja'Daa Wilson return at receiver and defensive back. Roman was a First Team All-KCAC selection with 25 receptions and four touchdowns. Wilson was a Second Team All-KCAC performer with eight receptions for 206 yards and four touchdowns.
The KWU roster has nine freshmen, 14 sophomores, two juniors, and one senior.
