Wildcats Close Out Homestand with 40-13 Victory over Spires

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - Playing its third straight game inside Liston Stadium, Baker women's flag football took down Saint Mary, 40-13 in a midweek conference matchup here Wednesday evening.

The Wildcats battled with the Spires for the first three quarters, leading by a touchdown going into the fourth quarter where BU poured on 20 straight points to earn its fifth KCAC win of the season.

Tara Llorente threw for over 200 yards for BU, going 24-for-37 for 208 yards and two touchdowns through the air. She added two more touchdowns with her legs while pacing the team with 51 rushing yards.

Mahagonay Simmons and Jaylin Harris each totaled seven receptions in the contest with Simmons piling up 71 yards and Harris finishing with 51 yards and a touchdown.

Harris snagged the first touchdown of the game on a fourth-down play for BU near its goal line, giving the Wildcats a 6-0 lead after a scoreless first quarter.

After the Spires tied things up, the Wildcats once again found themselves right on the doorstep of the USM goal line with Sanija Waller firing a quick strike to Llorente on the edge to put Baker back in front, 13-6.

In the second half, a long run from Kaley Phillips gave the Wildcats a little bit of breathing room before the Spires responded with a touchdown to make it a one-score game going into the final 12 minutes.

Baker scored within the first minute of the fourth quarter with Llorente scampering in for a 13-yard touchdown and she tacked on her second rushing tally with two minutes left to go to put the game out of reach.

Llorente added one last touchdown in the final seconds to seal a 40-13 victory for BU, giving the team back-to-back home wins to close out the three-game homestand.

Up next, Baker will head out on the road to face Cottey on Saturday, March 29 with kickoff set for 6 p.m. in Nevada, Mo.

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