Women’s rally falls just short of Tabor 55-54
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

HILLSBORO – Kansas Wesleyan rallied from a 13-point second half deficit, but Khristy Santee’s potential game winner at the buzzer was off as the Tabor Lady Bluejays held on for a 55-54 win over the Coyote women on Thursday night at Tabor’s Gymnasium.

Wesleyan found itself down 13, 40-27, with 15:09 to go in the game, after Tabor scored seven unanswered capped by a free throw from Jordon Crosson, but did not fold the tent.

A pair of Emily Luckeroth free throws would spark a 12-0 Wesleyan run over the next five minutes when Kaylaen Dittmer’s bucket with 10:09 left would cut the deficit to just one at 40-39.

The Lady Bluejays would lead the entire game, as the Coyotes were unable to get over the top, after Tabor jumped out to a 6-2 lead to open the game on a pair of threes by Stacie Herman and Kirsten Watson.

Wesleyan would keep pace with Tabor for a majority of the first half, getting as close as two, 17-15 with 8:08 to go on a bucket from Charressa Gray. The Bluejays would push their lead out to as many as six on a pair of Joanna Pyle free throws with 5:06 to go before the Coyotes would answer back, with five straight points from Luckeroth to get the deficit to one, 24-23, with 3:45 left.

Tabor (7-13, 6-3) would close the first half with an 8-2 run that would send the Lady Bluejays into the break with a 32-25 lead.

Tabor would extend its first half run through the first five minutes of the second half to push its lead to 13 when the Coyotes would start their rally.

The 12-0 Wesleyan run would cut the lead to one, with ten minutes to go. Tabor would push its lead back out to six with 3:57 to go in the game on a three-point play from Tasia Johnson, but the Coyotes would rally back, using a Luckeroth three to get back within one with 2:34 left at 53-52.

The game would come down to free throws, as Brittany Roth’s foul shots would get Tabor back out to a three point lead with 1:27 left. Gray would score with 15 seconds led to get the Coyotes back within one, forcing Wesleyan to foul.

Herman would miss two foul shots, but Gray’s layup with ten seconds left would miss, and Johnson would be fouled on the rebound. With a chance to put Tabor up three with six seconds left, but would miss both free throws.

Tierra Baldwin would get the board and Dittmer’s pass to Santee would find her wide open at the top of the key. Santee’s shot at the buzzer would miss, giving Tabor the 55-54 win.

Luckeroth would lead Wesleyan (6-13, 3-6) with 18 points, while Santee would add 12 off the bench and Gray would pitch in ten. The Coyotes were 20-of-53 from the field for 37.7 percent. Gray’s six rebounds would lead Wesleyan as the Coyotes won the rebounding battle 33-30.

Herman would lead Tabor with 13, while two other players had nine each as the Lady Bluejays were 19-of-47 from the floor for 40.4 percent. Crosson and Roth would lead Tabor with six rebounds each.

The Coyotes begin a four game homestand on Saturday as they host Ottawa.

-- KWU SI --