Unable to overcome a game opening 20-6 run, the Tabor College women fell to the Kansas Wesleyan 60-44 at Mabee Arena in Salina on Thursday night.
The Coyotes, NAIA ranked No. 21, opened the game with a barrage of three-pointers and jumped to an 8-2 run before Bluejay coach Shawn Winter called for Tabor?s first time out with 16:47 left in the first half.
Kansas Wesleyan kept its foot on the gas pedalm extending to a 20-6 lead with 12:09 remaining in the first half. Tabor rallied to within 10 points at 20-10 with 11:30 in left in the half on an offensive rebound and bucket by Tynan Honn.
Despite Tabor forcing two shot-clock violations in the final 10 minutes of the half, Kansas Wesleyan ended the half outscoring the Jays 12-9 to go into the locker room with a 32-19 lead.
Kansas Wesleyan extended its lead to as much as 23 in the second half but went cold from the field late in the second half. Tabor took advantage of the Coyote shooting slump and narrowed the margin to 54-44 with 2:33 left in the ball game.
Unable to cut get the Kansas Wesleyan lead to single digits, Tabor watched the Coyotes hit free throws down the stretch. The Jays decided to stop fouling to extend the game down 58-44 with a minute remaining.
Tabor out shot the Coyotes finishing 17-43 from the field (39.5 percent) compared to 22-62 (35.5 percent) by Kansas Wesleyan. The Jays turned the ball over 18 times and were outrebounded 40-31. Sixteen of Kansas Wesleyans? 40 rebounds came on the offensive end.
Honn ended the game with a double-double for Tabor, booking 10 points and 11 rebounds. Gina Hullet scored 10 points and pulled down four boards.Other scorers were Stephanie Silvas (6), Vivian Olvera (5), Tiffany Bulk and Sara Wyckoff (4) Andrea Robinson (3), and MacKenzie Dick (2).
Kansas Wesleyan finished with three players in double figures, led by Shelby Babcock with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Stephanie Frost scored 12 and Montric Santee 11.
Kansas Wesleyan shares the top spot in the KCAC with Sterling at 5-0 in KCAC play and 11-3 overall.
Tabor falls to 3-11 on the season and 2-3 in KCAC play. The Jays sit at third in the conference under a log jam at first and second. Tabor will be in action Saturday against Bethany at 5 p.m. in Hillsboro.
