With a win over Bethel and a Kansas Wesleyan loss to Bethany, the Tabor College women?s basketball team now sits alone at the top of the KCAC with an 11-3 record.
Tabor built to its largest lead at the end in Saturday?s 55-44 win over Bethel.
The Bluejays committed 24 turnovers to Bethel?s 21 in what quickly became a physical game, but held the advantage on the boards, 47-30. The Threshers shot 37.7 percent from the field (20-53), while Tabor shot 35.8 percent (19-53).
Coach Shawn Reed said he was pleased with his team?s defense and rebounding, which allowed Tabor to stay in the game despite making a fewer percentage of shots from the field and turning the ball over more.
?We?ve won a lot of ugly games this year because we?ll guard and we?ll rebound,? he said.
Tabor limited Bethel?s April Harpe, who averages more than 10 rebounds per game, to only two on the night. The Bluejays also limited Harpe?s scoring from the teams? previous meeting, giving up 16 points instead of 21.
?I thought Tena Loewen and Sam and Erin Maxwell and Taylor did a good job on her,? Reed said. ?She got some points, but boy she had to work for them.?
It was a back-and-fourth battle at the start, as neither team led by more than two in the first nine minutes. Kaleigh Troxell and Tonisha Dean scored seven consecutive points to give Tabor a bit of a cushion, 17-11. Tabor led, 23-16, after Dean scored twice, and led, 27-22 at halftime.
The Threshers closed the gap to 28-27 after intermission, then Kayla Wilgers drained a three and Tena Loewen scored to give Tabor some space. The Bluejays extended it to 39-31 with 12:12 to play, but Bethel used a 6-1 run to close within 40-37 three minutes later.
After Dean scored at 8:03, Tabor led, 44-39, and with the exception of one free throw from Dean, neither team scored again until only 2:30 remained in the game. Tabor scored its final 10 points from the charity stripe, building to its largest margin at the end.
Dean accounted for 15 points and 11 rebounds and was named the KCAC offensive player of the week.
McPherson?Tabor never trailed in its 67-46 victory Thursday.
Tabor limited the Bulldogs? leading scorer Bailey Brown, who came into the game averaging almost 17 points a game, to just six points, including four from the charity stripe.
The teams battled to an 11-11 tie, then Tabor enjoyed a 9-2 run, including seven points from Tonisha Dean, for a 20-13 margin with 2:47 left in the first half. Dean and Kaleigh Troxell chipped in three-pointers, and when Dean scored on a traditional three-point play, Tabor held its first double-digit advantage, 29-19. The half ended with the Bluejays in front, 30-19.
Dean accounted for 17 of Tabor?s first-half points. The Bluejays limited McPherson to 25 percent shooting from the field in the first half (8-32), while shooting 34.4 percent themselves (11-32).
The Bulldogs trimmed the lead to 30-24, but a Tena Loewen free throw and Dean three-pointer put Tabor?s lead back at 10. Hurd made a three at 13:59 to ignite a 16-4 run over the next five minutes. The stretch also included threes by Kayla Wilgers, Mallory Zuercher and Dean.
The Bluejays built to their largest margin, 65-36, when Erin Maxwell scored with 3:01 to play.
Dean led all scorers with 26 points. Hurd added 12.
Coming?Tabor (11-3, 15-11) will play at Kansas Wesleyan (10-4, 18-7) Thursday at 6 p.m. before traveling to Bethany (2-12, 3-23) Saturday for a 5 p.m. game.
