Wildcats Earn KCAC Tournament Victory, Fall in Conference Semifinals

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - Making its first-ever appearance, No. 3 Baker won its inaugural game of the KCAC Tournament with a 38-12 victory over No. 6 Cottey in the quarterfinals before falling to No. 2 Kansas Wesleyan in KCAC Semifinals on Saturday.

Playing at the Paragon Sports Complex in Lee's Summit, Mo., the Wildcats used a sizable victory over the Comets to move on to Saturday's finale where BU couldn't overcome a second-half deficit against the second-seeded Coyotes, who advanced to the championship game.

KCAC Quarterfinals - BU 38, CC 12
The Wildcats scored twice in three of the four quarters, including a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter to carry a 14-6 halftime lead. Sanija Waller threw for three more touchdowns in the second half before closing out the scoring with a 15-yard score.

Faith Phillips intercepted a pass on Cottey's opening possession to give the ball to Baker and the BU offense scored on the very first play of their series with Waller finding Jaylin Harris for a 14-yard touchdown.

On Baker's next possession, Gabriella Zabaletta punched one in from two-yards out to make it a 14-0 lead before the Comets used a pick-six to score before halftime and make it a one-score game heading into the break.

In the second half, the Wildcats delivered a quick blow early on with a nifty fourth-and-short play resulting in a Kayla Harrison touchdown on their first possession as Zabaletta hauled in Waller's initial pass before pitching to Harrison who took it the rest of the way for the score.

Waller and Harris connected for the second time to give the Wildcats a 26-6 lead and Phillips came through with another big-play moment on a 48-yard touchdown catch to start the fourth quarter.

After Cottey scored for the second and final time, Waller garnished BU's first conference tournament victory with her fifth total touchdown of the game.

KCAC Semifinals - KWU 30, BU 13
The Coyotes scored 18 unanswered points and forced several fourth-down stops to hand the Wildcats a 30-13 loss in the KCAC Semifinals.

Waller completed 20 passes for 123 yards and added 50 yards on the ground with a pair of rushing touchdowns. Harrison hauled in a team-high six catches to lead a balanced receiving corps that featured Destiny Martinez with the most yardage at five receptions for 38 yards.

After KWU tallied the lone score in the first quarter, Baker tied things up with a solid 11-play drive that ended with Waller bursting in from five-yards out.

Baker looked to take a 6-6 tie into the break, but the Coyotes scored a pair of back-breaking touchdowns before halftime to run their lead up to an 18-6 advantage.

Receiving the ball first in the second half, Kansas Wesleyan completed its string of touchdowns with a 28-yard touchdown pass.

The Wildcats responded with a touchdown on the following drive with Waller completing seven straight passes before taking it in herself again to make it a 24-13 deficit for BU.

With Baker needing stops, KWU continued to slash through the BU defense with its fourth straight touchdown providing the final dagger. The Wildcats were held on fourth down on back-to-back possessions as the Coyotes brought BU's tournament run to an end.

Sitting at 12-5 on the season, the Wildcats continue their postseason with a trip to the 2024 NAIA Women's Flag Football Finals on May 7-10 in Atlanta.

#BakerBuildsChampions