CWashington Divas’ Tiffany Matthews outruns Baltimore Nighthawks defender Regina Nolan for a touchdown.
Photo By John E. DeFreitas
The D.C. Divas started the day with a tough defensive series followed by a 30-yard punt return by Kathryn Hemlock on Sat., May 23. Two plays later, running back Okiima Pickett’s two-yard run gave the Divas a 7-0 lead. Three of Pickett’s first four carries went for touchdowns. On her second carry, Pickett ran for 35 yards and Hemlock added the extra point to put the Divas up 14-0. The Baltimore Nighthawks scored to close the contest to 14-6 until Pickett pounced on the Nighthawks defense with a 65-yard touchdown run.
The Divas’ fourth offensive possession was capped by a 12-yard catch and run from receiver Tara Kallal, which made it 29-6. Hemlock kicked the extra point, then the next series intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards to set up running back LaShawn Foust, whose 12-yard run gave the Divas a 36-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Divas would score on 8 of their first 9 possessions of the game.
Quarterback Allyson Hamlin added the first score of the second quarter with a 17-yard scramble, making the lead 42-7. Hamlin then threw her second touchdown of the game, a 40-yard strike to receiver Tara Stephenson, making the score 49-6. Running back Tiffany Matthews added a 20-yard touchdown run, giving the Divas 56 points, setting a team record for the most points scored in one half in the team’s nine-year history. Hemlock added to the second half scoring with a 50-yard punt return to make it 63-6 Divas.
The Divas defense was strong, pulling in three interceptions and a blocked punt by running back Rachelle Pecovsky punched it in from the two-yard line to put the Divas up 70-6. Baltimore added a touchdown and two-point conversion to make the final score Divas 70, Nighthawks 14.
 Baltimore Nighthawks quarterback Lillian Drumgold looks for an open receiver while trying to evade Washington Divas linebacker Sharina Western. Photo By John E. DeFreitas
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 Washington Divas running back Okiima Pickett’s two-yard run leaves Baltimore Nighthawks Ann Kurer behind to give the Divas a 7-0 lead. Photo By John E. DeFreitas
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 The Washington Divas’ fourth offensive possession was capped by a 12-yard catch and run from Divas wide receiver Tara Kallal, who outran Baltimore Nighthawks wide receiver Kenyetta Grigsby for a touchdown. Photo By John E. DeFreitas
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 Kathryn Hemlock evades her defender returning a 30 yard punt to give the Divas good field possession. Photo By John E. DeFreitas
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