BRADENTON, Fla. – The Ottawa University women's flag football team opened play at the NAIA National Women's Flag Invitational on Thursday with a hard-fought split at IMG Academy. The Braves defeated St. Thomas University, 20-15, in the opening game before falling to Keiser University, 20-13, in the second contest.
Ottawa 20, St. Thomas 15
Ottawa used a balanced offensive attack and timely defensive stops to earn a victory over St. Thomas University in the opening game of the tournament.
The Braves struck first midway through the opening quarter.
Anna Anderson capped a 10-play, 66-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to
Marley Spielberg, giving Ottawa a 7-0 lead after the PAT. St. Thomas answered late in the quarter with a touchdown pass from Cydnee Brooks to Nyla Gigger to even the score at 7-7 heading into the second quarter.
After a scoreless second quarter, Ottawa regained momentum in the third. Anderson found Tatiana Dos Santos for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 3:55 left in the quarter, putting the Braves ahead 14-7. St. Thomas responded quickly, however, as Brooks connected with Dominique Perez-Moore on a 36-yard touchdown pass and added the conversion to take a 15-14 advantage.
The Braves answered in the fourth quarter with the game-winning drive. Anderson connected with
Mya Quinn on a 16-yard touchdown pass to give Ottawa a 20-15 lead. The Ottawa defense then shut down St. Thomas on its final possessions to secure the victory.
Anderson finished 21-for-33 passing for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Tatiana Dos Santos led the receiving corps with five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, while
Mya Quinn had six receptions for 47 yards and a score. Spielberg added three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively,
Si'Naya Glover and
Susann Kaufmann each recorded seven flag pulls. Kaufmann and
Dejonice Parris both registered sacks, while
Bethany Uribe added six flag pulls.
Game Stats Recap
- Anna Anderson: 21-for-33 passing, 169 yards, 3 TDs
- Tatiana Dos Santos: 5 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD
- Mya Quinn: 6 receptions, 47 yards, 1 TD
- Marley Spielberg: 3 receptions, 29 yards, 1 TD
- Alyssa Linkous: 4 receptions, 33 yards
- Si'Naya Glover: 7 flag pulls
- Susann Kaufmann: 7 flag pulls, 1 sack
- Bethany Uribe: 6 flag pulls
- Dejonice Parris: 4 flag pulls, 1 sack
Keiser 20, Ottawa 13
Ottawa battled nationally-ranked Keiser down to the final seconds before suffering a narrow 20-13 defeat in the second game of the day.
The Braves came out firing, taking a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter when Anderson connected with Tatiana Dos Santos on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Ottawa extended the lead to 13-0 in the second quarter on an eight-yard scramble touchdown by Anderson.
Keiser cut the deficit to 13-7 just before halftime on a touchdown pass from Ava Wallace to Olivia Rijo. Ottawa's defense came up with a huge play late in the second quarter when
Bethany Uribe intercepted a pass at the goal line to keep the Braves in front.
Keiser tied the game in the fourth quarter on a two-yard rushing touchdown by Sarah Villareal before taking the lead with four seconds remaining on a two-yard touchdown pass from Wallace to Ashlea Klam.
Anderson threw for 145 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 21 yards and a score. Dos Santos caught seven passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, and
Alyssa Linkous added three receptions for 48 yards.
Defensively,
Si'Naya Glover led Ottawa with 10 flag pulls.
Jukanie Washington finished with seven flag pulls and a pass breakup, while
Marley Spielberg and
Susann Kaufmann each recorded six flag pulls.
Bethany Uribe added an interception.
Game Stats Recap
