Tabor women start 2010 with two losses

Poor shooting and turnovers proved to be a deadly combination as the Tabor College women dropped a 49-28 loss to Linden?wood University at Saturday?s Tabor Classic finale.

How cold were the Bluejays? In the first half, about as frigid as the temperature outside the gymnasium. The Jays made only 11 percent (3-27) in the first half, and didn?t make a field goal until Gina Hullet scored with 14:51 left in the half. At that point, Tabor was trailing 9-2.

Five minutes and eight missed shots later, Tynan Honn scored in the paint. Andrea Robinson made Tabor?s third and final field goal of the half when she drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 4:30 to go.

In spite of the lack of offense, Tabor was still within striking distance at halftime, with Lindenwood leading 23-12 on 32 percent (9-28) shooting.

The Bluejays seemed to be more in sync as the second half started, and cut the lead to 27-17 when Vivian Olivera drained a 3-pointer from the wing at the 15:20 mark.

But over the next 12 minutes Tabor committed 11 turnovers, and shot 1-for-11 from the field as Lindenwood widened the gap to its largest margin, 46-19, before Hullett scored on a put-back with 3:27 left in the contest. A bucket by Honn and a 3-pointer by Mallory Flaming the next two trips down the court gave Tabor a 7-0 run, but it was far too little, far too late.

Honn led Tabor with seven points and 10 rebounds. The Bluejays (3-10) finished with 26 turnovers to 14 for the visitors, who held a 20-3 lead in points off turnovers.

Christina Edwards led the Lions with 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Baker?A late first-half surge propelled the Baker University women past Tabor, 62-55, in the New Year?s Day opening to the Tabor Classic.

The host Bluejays led the visiting Wildcats for much of the half. A basket by MacKenzie Dick ignited a 6-0 spurt that gave Tabor its largest margin of the night at 16-10 with 11:20 to go. After Baker scored, Dick countered with basket to bump the lead back to six for the last time.

Baker finished the half with a 17-4 run that vaulted the Wildcats into a 29-22 advantage by intermission. The lead grew to as large as 10 points at the 12:30 mark of the second half before Tabor launched a methodical march back into contention.

The rally climaxed when Tynan Honn?s free-throw tied the game at 49-49 with 5:40 play.

The Bluejays were still within 53-52 after Andrea Robinson sank a pair of charities with 4:22 left. But a six-point surge by the Wildcats stretched the lead to seven with 1:44 to go. Tabor whittled it back to 59-55 on a basket and free-throw by Honn with 32 seconds left, but Baker finished with the seven-point win.

Honn contributed a strong performance for Tabor, finishing with 22 points, including 10-for-14 shooting from the line. She also pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds.

Baker had three players in double figures, led by Emily Gibson with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

As a team, Tabor made a third of its shots (17-52) from the floor compared to 37 percent (23-62) for Baker. Turnovers made the difference as the Wildcats held a 21-9 scoring advantage off 20 Bluejay miscues while committing only nine.

Coming?Tabor (2-2, 3-10) will return to conference play this week with a 6 p.m. game Thurs?day at co-leader Kansas Wesleyan (4-0, 10-3), then will play host to Bethany (1-3, 4-10) at 5 p.m. Saturday.

On Monday, the Bluejays will step outside the conference again when they welcome York (Neb.) College to town at 6 p.m.

More from Hillsboro Free Press
Shirley Carlson to celebrate 80th
The family of Shirley Carlson is hosting a celebration from 3-5 p.m....
Read More