The Tabor College basketball teams swept Bethany. The women's team edged the Swedes 52-45 before the men hammered the visitors 66-54 in Hillsboro.
Gina Hullet's 16/12 double-double paced the Bluejays on another Thursday evening defined by poor shooting from both teams. Tabor trailed by as much as three in the first half, but used a 14-2 run to take a 25-17 halftime lead. Back-to-back layups by Chelsea Malone and Andrea Robinson widened the gap to 10 early in the second, but the much-described Pihl sisters brought Bethany charging back. Jade Pihl sparked a 15-3 Swedes run with a 3-pointer three minutes into the second half, and recorded the assist on a triple by Roni Whitman. Then Rhys Pihl took over, collecting six of her 17 points in a 1:29 stretch, giving Bethany a 34-32 lead with 13:52 to play.
Andrea Robinson answered with a 3-pointer at 13:09, and Tabor never trailed again. Stephanie Silvas doubled Tabor's lead to six with a 3-pointer at 5:15. The Bluejays scored just one field goal after Silvas' shot, but extended their lead to seven with free throws.
Kirsten Watson scored 12 points, and Roth finished with 11.
On the men's side, Tabor emerged from a first half that saw five lead changes and two ties holding a 35-28 lead, and the Bluejays built that lead to 53-40 midway through the second half. Led by Damon Dechant, who earned three "and-1" free throws on four field goals in the first half, totaled 19 points and 13 rebounds in the game, and blocked two shots emphatically, the Tabor defense limited Bethany to 7-for-36 from the field after halftime. The Bluejays were particularly hawkish against the 3-point shot, holding Bethany to 4-for-21 from distance for the game.
Zack Vanselow scored 12 points.
Tabor hosts McPherson Saturday.
