The Tabor women experienced more growing pains last week, losing in the closing seconds Thursday at Bethel, then were dominated Saturday by McPherson.
Bethel?Tabor had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer on the last possession of the game. The Bluejays failed to execute, resulting in a 66-63 loss to Bethel in North Newton.
Following a timeout with 20 seconds left, Andrea Robinson inbounded the ball to Vivian Olvera. With Bethel guarding the 3-point line, Olvera tried to shake a Bethel defender, but then passed to Robinson on the right wing. Robinson was able to get daylight for a second, thanks to a Sarah Wyckoff screen at the top of the key.
But Robinson was immediately met by 6-foot Samantha Askew. Robinson then found Olvera in the corner. Olvera was met by a swarm of Bethel defenders and dropped the ball inside to Wyckoff.
Catching the ball directly in front of the basket in the lane, Wyckoff attempted a turnaround, but the ball rolled off the front of the rim and into the hands of Bethel, who held the ball until the final buzzer.
Tabor and Bethel battled back and forth the entire second half. Tabor held a lead late and had pulled to within one with 1:30 left to play. Bethel stole the ball on two consecutive Tabor possessions, holding the Bluejays scoreless for the last 1:30.
Rachael Buckman led all scorers with 21 points. Wood had 16 and Blackburn finished with 12 points, eight rebounds.
Tabor was led by Tynan Honn with 15 points, 13 rebounds. Wyckoff contributed 14 points and Olvera scored 13. Other scorers for Tabor were Robinson (7), MacKenzie Dick (7), Stephanie Silvas (6) and Tiffany Bulk (1).
McPherson?Tabor scored the first basket of the game, but never led again as McPherson posted a 65-46 victory.
The Bulldogs opened the game with a 20-5 run. Tabor pulled to within 25-15 with 3:30 left to play in the first half, but in the next two minutes, McPherson scored six unanswered points. With 38.6 seconds left in the half, Tabor coach Shawn Winter was whistled for a technical foul. The ensuing free throws stretched the lead to 31-15.
Each team managed three points in the last 38 seconds.
In the second half, McPherson led by as much as 21 at one point.
Tynan Honn, the only Bluejay to finish in double figures, led all scorers with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Three Bulldogs contributed double-digit scoring. Carley Sharp scored 14 points, Brooke Weisenberger 11 and Kristen Ozbun 10.
Other scorers for Tabor were MacKenzie Dick (9), Sarah Wyckoff (7), Andrea Robinson (6), Nicole Gentry (2) and Molly Dick and Lindsey Radic (1).
Coming?McPherson improved to 2-10 and 5-15, but sits at last place in the KCAC. Tabor fell to 3-9 in the KCAC and 4-18 overall.
Tabor plays two games at home this week, hosting Ottawa Thursday and Kansas Wesleyan Saturday.
