SALINA, Kan. — Southwestern struggled to find offensive rhythm Wednesday night, falling 39-0 to Kansas Wesleyan.

Southwestern (4-3) (4-3) showed flashes offensively despite the loss, controlling possession for nearly 35 minutes and totaling 208 yards of offense on 54 plays.

Quarterback Kennedi Hayes led the Builders with 173 passing yards on 21-of-39 attempts, while adding a team-high 35 rushing yards. Vivianna Solis was her top target, hauling in 10 receptions for 77 yards, and Mary Jones provided a spark with three catches for 54 yards, including a 40-yard gain that marked Southwestern's longest play of the night.

Southwestern's best scoring opportunity came in the third quarter when Hayes connected with Jones for a 40-yard completion to set up a drive deep into Kansas Wesleyan territory. The drive stalled inside the red zone, one of several missed opportunities that kept the Builders off the scoreboard.

Defensively, Southwestern showed resilience throughout the contest. Kennedy Wesley led the effort with seven tackles, including two sacks and two tackles for loss. Mary Jones added an interception, while multiple defenders, including Solis and Andrea Moon, contributed key stops to slow Kansas Wesleyan's momentum at times.

Kansas Wesleyan (5-1) (3-1) capitalized early, scoring three touchdowns in the opening quarter to build an 18-0 lead and never looked back. A 28-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter further extended the gap, putting the game out of reach.

The Builders continued to compete into the fourth quarter, highlighted by a defensive interception from Jones that briefly shifted momentum, but turnovers and stalled drives prevented a comeback.

Southwestern will return to action Saturday, March 28, against the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kan. at Charles Berkel Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.