by HILLSBORO, Kan. Playing for the second straight game without starting point guard and all conference defensive selection Ashtyn Wiebe (JR/Elbing, Kan.), Tabor came up short this time around as they couldn’t overcome cold shooting as Bethel snuck out of Hillsboro with the 55-52 win.
Both teams seemed in a hurry offensively early as shots were fired quick from both teams and neither could find the mark early in the contest. Laney Scott (SO/St. George, Kan.) provided an offensive lift off the bench for the Bluejays, first converting two free throws before connecting from beyond the arc for her first three of the game. Scott’s quick five points tied the game at eight with 2:51 left in the opening quarter.
Alyvia Owens (FR/Hutchinson, Kan.) grabbed an offensive rebound and scored down low to tie the game at 10 with just 20 seconds left in the first period. Bethel would sink one free throw late in the period to take an 11-10 lead after one.
Kasey Rice (Pawnee Nation)’s first three of the night came on a Sammy Jo Peterson (SR/Cottonwood Falls, Kan.) assist just seconds into the second quarter to pull Tabor within one point (16-15). Tabor’s next trip produced the Bluejays’ first lead of the second period (17-16) when Zoe Shieldnight (JR/Gore, Okla.) connected from 15 feet.
Tabor would extend their lead (22-16) over their next two possessions. Allie Ostermann hit a three from top of the key a possession before Rice would record a steal and coast in for the layup. The six point lead would be Tabor’s biggest of the night with 2:45 left in the first half.
Bethel used a mini 6-0 run to tie the game at 22 inside of one minute to play in the half. Rice would find the bottom of the basket on a 15 foot pull up jumper and Bethel’s desperation shot at the buzzer clanked off the back iron, send the teams into the break with Tabor on top by two (24-22).
Bethel would regain the lead early in the third quarter, converting a Tabor turnover into a layup to gain a 31-26 lead just two minutes into the quarter.
Trailing by six midway through the third period, Rice started to bring Tabor back. Once again good from 15 feet, Rice cut Bethel’s lead to just four (34-30). Bethel would respond with a bucket of their own before Rice used a traditional three-point play to pull Tabor within a possession at 36-33. Tabor would again cut the lead to three (38-35) with just over three minutes to play when Laney Swink (JR/Fort Gibson, Okla.) hit a nice pull up jumper in the lane.
“Kasey played very well offensively tonight” commented Head Coach Shawn Reed. “I was pleased with her effort. She is very capable of scoring for us and it’s good to see her have success.”
With an even minute on the clock the Threshers grabbed another six point lead (42-36) before the Bluejays closed the quarter on a 5-0 run, keyed by who else but Rice. Her second old fashioned three-point play of the period cut Bethel’s lead to 42-39 before Lexi Wall (SO/Mounds, Okla.) swiped a steal and raced to the other end, converting the steal into two points and pulling Tabor to within one (42-41) to end the quarter.
“We played three good quarters defensively. The third quarter we struggled to guard the three-point line and Schmidt down low for a period of time and that really hurt us” replied Reed.
Laney Scott found an open Julissa Garcia (JR/Ponca City, Okla.) for a bucket to start the final quarter and the Bluejays were back on top 43-42. That started a back-and-forth contest over the next several minutes of play. Tabor got a deep ball from Rice to pull even at 46 and Rice would provide Tabor with another lead (50-49) on a strong drive to the basket, drawing the foul and making both free throws.
With just 1:33 left in the game, Hannah Gilmore (SR/Cedaredge, Colo.) stepped to the line, sank both freebies, and Tabor was up (52-51) once again. That would be Tabor’s last lead of the night as they couldn’t knock down either of their three point attempts on back-to-back possessions, allowing Bethel to escape with the win (55-52).
“Offensively we are going to have to make three-point shots. In the last two games we’ve gone a total of 5-44 (11%)” said Reed of the team’s difficulties to connect from beyond the arc. “Teams are going to continue to sit in the paint or play zone until we prove that we can make shots.”
Reed was quick to give Bethel credit for the win. “Hats off to Bethel. I thought they totally outplayed us on both ends of the court.”
Tabor suffered their first loss of the season, dropping their overall record to 2-1 and their KCAC record to 1-1.
Game Notes: The lead changed hands 10 times and was tied eight. After controlling the boards the first half (22-16), Tabor couldn’t hold on, losing the battle on the boards 37-34. The Bluejays forced 19 Thresher turnovers and grabbed 10 steals on the night. Neither team shot well (Bethel 37%, Tabor 34%) and beyond the arc was a struggle for both as well (Bethel 33%, Tabor 17%). Rice was Tabor’s sole double digit scorer. The sophomore from Oklahoma poured in a game high 22 points on 8-11 shooting (2-3 from the three-point line and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line). Shieldnight was Tabor’s leader on the glass, grabbing seven rebounds
