COLUMBUS, Ind. - The No. 9 University of Saint Francis (Ind.) women's flag football team traveled to Circle K Fieldhouse at NexusPark for pool play at the NAIA East Flag Football Championship, earning wins over Lindsey Wilson University and Cumberland University. The Cougars defeated the Blue Raiders 33-14 before securing a 40-19 victory over the Phoenix to finish pool play undefeated.

#9 SAINT FRANCIS 33, LINDSEY WILSON 14

• Saint Francis and Lindsey Wilson traded scores in the opening period, entering the second quarter tied at 6-6.
• The Cougars pulled ahead in the second, scoring two touchdowns to take a 19-6 lead into halftime.
• Saint Francis added 14 more points in the second half while limiting Lindsey Wilson to eight, securing the program's first postseason victory.
• The Cougars totaled 281 yards of offense. Jianna Reyes completed 17-of-23 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 24 rushing yards and a score on eight carries. Nina Kamma-Hill recorded three receptions for 73 yards, and Haylee Weatherspoon brought in five catches for 62 yards and two touchdowns. Harmany Walker also added a receiving touchdown.
• Defensively, Saint Francis totaled 38 flag pulls, one interception and five pass breakups. Da'Kyla Hall and Ava Cousins led the way with nine flag pulls each. Kamma-Hill added three tackles and returned an interception 37 yards.

#9 SAINT FRANCIS 40, CUMBERLAND 19

• Saint Francis took control early, scoring twice in the opening period to take a 14-6 lead.
• The Cougars added two more touchdowns in the second, while Cumberland answered with a score, sending Saint Francis into halftime with a 27-12 advantage.
• Saint Francis continued to pull away in the third, holding the Phoenix scoreless while adding another touchdown to extend the lead to 34-12.
• Cumberland outscored the Cougars 7-6 in the fourth, but it was not enough as Saint Francis secured the 40-19 victory.
• The Cougars totaled 417 yards of offense. Reyes completed 19-of-31 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 60 yards and two scores on nine carries. Weatherspoon recorded five receptions for 173 yards and three touchdowns, and Walker added four catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
• Defensively, Saint Francis totaled 43 flag pulls, one sack, and one interception. Peyton Pries led the team with 10 tackles, while Ava Cousins added eight flag pulls. Madison Myers-Rebidas recorded four tackles and an interception, Zayjona Pelt added a sack and Walker had a team-high three pass breakups.

Up next, the Cougars (12-4) will face the winner of Cumberland and Campbellsville University in the semifinal round of the NAIA East Flag Football Championship on Friday, April 24. The championship game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., with the winner advancing to the eight-team NAIA National Invitational in May.

Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The academic structure at Saint Francis offers seven pathways: Humanities, Faith and Liberal Arts; Allied Health; Business and Leadership: Creative Arts and Digital Media; Education, Human Services and Community Care; Nursing; and Sciences and Medical Studies. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis delivers workforce development healthcare programs in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Gas City, Indianapolis, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Five-Star Champion of Character institution, Saint Francis has 21 athletic programs boasting three individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.