Bluejay women struggle to find wings in conference play, splitting its games

The Tabor College women lost their second game of the season to Southwestern, this time a 64-51 decision Saturday at home.

?We came really ready to play tonight,? coach Shawn Winter said. ?We were pleased with the way we came out and focused and played. I think our fatigue more than anything really killed us in the second half.?

The Bluejays started strong with an eight-point scoring run, including a three-pointer from Whitney Polosky. Three back-to-back three-point shots later, the Bluejays led, 11-8.

Despite the Builders? efforts, the Bluejays held a comfortable lead throughout the first half. The Builders cut the Bluejays? lead to 8 points by halftime, but Tabor led, 28-20, at halftime.

The Builders began to turn up the heat in the second half. They pulled into a 32-32 tie a little under five minutes into the second half. Two free throws gave them the lead a minute later.

But the Bluejays launched on a five-point scoring run to retake the lead, 37-36. But the Builders took it back again within a minute.

A three-point shot by Jocelyn Cook put tabor back on top two minutes later, but the Builders soon reclaimed. In all, the game featured two ties and five lead changes.

Once the Builders took the lead with five minutes left, there was no stopping them. They increased it by scoring 14 points in the last five minutes to give them a somewhat deceiving 13-point margin of victory.

?We felt like they out-manned us, and we were going to have a hard time matching up, and because of our lack of depth,? Winter said. ?We ran out of gas in the second half and they hit some shots.?

He said he was proud of the way his team battled. He thought the Jays shot well, but the Builders had 24 more attempts and the Bluejays had 10 more turnovers than the Builders.

?I don?t think the score is that indicative,? Winter said. ?We felt we didn?t get beat by 13.?

Amy Jo Maphet led Tabor with 13 points while Katlyn Mary added 12 and Polosky 11.

Brett Bates led Southwestern with 23 points.

McPherson?Tabor beat conference rival McPherson (3-13, 5-21) at home Thursday, 47-43.

?It wasn?t the prettiest thing in the world,? coach Shawn Winter said. ?But when you have a team that can withstand about any set of circumstances they find themselves in and find a way to win the game, I?m always happy.?

The Bluejays scored first and kept the lead throughout the first half, helped by an eight-point scoring run at the beginning of the half and strong inside shooting from Tynan Honn.

Honn, who has come into her own as the season has progressed, scored 13 of Tabor?s Bluejays? 23 first-half points.

The Bluejays led the Bulldogs, 23-12, at halftime.

Tabor maintained its lead as the second half got under way, but the Bulldogs began to challenge, drawing to within 36-35, with a little over eight minutes left to play.

The rally led to a close battle during the last five minutes of the game. but the Bluejays held off the visitors for the four-point win.

The Bluejays won despite missing two players. Molly Dick was ill and Vivian Olvera lost her academic eligibility, according to Winters.

?We?re down two people in our regular rotation,? he said. ?We battled, and somehow hung on, so that?s all that matters.?

Honn led the Bluejays in scoring with 18 points.

Coming?The Bluejays (7-9, 10-16) are scheduled to face Friends University (8-8, 13-13) on the road Thursday, before traveling to Lindsborg to take on Bethany College?(4-12, 6-20) Saturday.

More from Hillsboro Free Press
Seven home improvements to tackle before you move in
You found the perfect home, so it’ s not surprising that you...
Read More