The Tabor College basketball teams swept Sterling Thursday night. The women won, 65-45, and the men won, 84-70. The victories guaranteed both the Bluejay women and men at least a share of the KCAC regular season title. Both Tabor teams have also secured the No. 1 seeds in the upcoming conference tournaments and have earned automatic berths to the NAIA national tournament.
Women?A strong Bluejay defensive showing helped Tabor cruise to a 20-point victory over Sterling Thursday.
Tabor came out firing on all cylinders, making five of its first six field goal attempts in the first four minutes to claim a 12-3 lead after Mallory Zuercher and Taylor Hurd drained back-to-back threes. By the time Kayla Wilgers scored three- and two-point baskets, Tabor?s lead had increased to 17-5.
Tabor led, 21-10, at the 8:48 mark after Kaleigh Troxell scored, but then the Bluejay shooting turned cold. Tabor did not score a field goal the next 7:30, managing only two free throws during that stretch. Sterling, meanwhile, tied the game at 23 with 1:40 left in the first half. Zuercher broke the scoring drought with a three-pointer with 1:18 to play, giving Tabor a 26-23 halftime lead.
The Bluejays increased their lead to 37-29 after a Wilgers three, but a string of four Warrior points brought Sterling within four, 37-33. From there, Tonisha Dean scored to ignite a 13-4 run and capped it with a basket to put Tabor in front, 50-37, with 8:14 to play.
With Tabor leading, 52-41, Taylor Janzen fired off consecutive baskets, which was the start of a 9-0 run that put Tabor up, 61-41, when Dean scored with 3:17 to go. The teams traded scores, with Dean adding two more baskets to give Tabor the 20-point victory.
Dean and Wilgers shared top scoring honors for the game with 13 points each. Troxell added 11.
Men?Despite somewhat of a slow start, Tabor cruised to a 14-point victory over Sterling Thursday.
Sterling burst to a 7-0 lead out of the gate?the Warriors? largest margin of the night?and Tabor trailed for nearly the first 12 minutes of the game.
An Andrew Thomas dunk off an assist from Lance Carter at the 13:17 mark gave Tabor a spark, and Jake Arck scored to bring the Bluejays within 15-13. A Warrior three-pointer increased the margin to five before John Jedneak scored to ignite a 7-2 run that tied the game at 20 after Chance LeBlanc drained a three at 8:04. The Bluejays took their first lead, 25-24, after a Malik Brooks three-pointer, which was the start of a 10-0 run that put Tabor?s lead at 11, 35-24, with 4:16 left in the half. The Bluejays led, 43-33, at halftime.
Sterling trimmed the lead to seven before Tabor increased the margin to 52-41 after Jonathan Gibson scored with 16:00 left in the game. The teams traded scores, and when Lance Carter made a basket at 11:08, the Bluejays led, 61-50. A 6-1 Warrior run trimmed the margin to six before Tabor regained a 10-point lead, 67-57. Again, Sterling cut the lead to six, 70-64, with 5:14 to play, but after that, an 8-2 Tabor run secured a double-digit advantage the rest of the way. Tabor enjoyed its largest lead, 83-68, when Biggs made a free throw with 2:05 to go, and the Bluejays cruised to the 14-point win.
Thomas led Tabor with 17 points. Brooks added 16, JT Nemit 12 and Carter 11. Carter also pulled down 10 rebounds.
Coming?Tabor will conclude the regular season by hosting Ottawa Saturday. The women will play at 5 p.m., and the men will play at 7 p.m.
For scores and updates during games, follow Janae on Twitter @janaerem13
