The Tabor College Bluejays lost for the first time since November 22 at Baker with a 69-57 defeat at the hands of Ottawa University Monday night in Hillsboro in the championship game of the KCAC post season tournament.
Tabor trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half but cut the deficit to 33-28 by halftime.
The Bluejays took their first lead of the night with13:53 remaining at 40-39 setting the stage for a back and forth affair down the stretch.
Tabor's largest lead came with 6:44 remaining, 51-48, but costly turnovers, missed shots and deadly free throw shooting by the Braves in the final moments spelled defeat for Tabor.
The Bluejays were led offensively by Donya Anderson with 16, Jill Hein had 13 and Katie Tedder added 11 as Tabor hit 41 percent from the field (24 of 59) and three of 11 (27 percent) from the 3-point line.
Ottawa was led by Hallie Boyce with 21 points as the Braves connected on 23 of 56 from the field (41 percent) but hurt the Bluejays from the 3-point line, nailing eight of 18 (44.4 percent).
The loss broke Tabor's 24 game winning streak and dropped the Bluejays to 27-4 for the season while Ottawa improved to 21-9.
Both teams will advance to Sioux City, Iowa for next week's NAIA national tournament with seeding announced on Wednesday.
Erica Hemmert, Donya Anderson and Stacie Herman were named first team All-KCAC while Jill Hein and Emily Vogts picked up second team honors.
Hemmert and Hein earned a spot on the All-Defensive team and Hemmert was named the KCAC's Player-of-the-Year.
Coach Rusty Allen also picked up Co-Coach-of-the-Year with Bethany's Trent May.
