OTTAWA, Kan. – The Lady Bluejays have gotten off to an excellent start in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) play after Saturday's win on the road at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, but their fast start to conference play didn't stop there. Wednesday evening saw Tabor take a trip east to Ottawa to take on the Ottawa University Braves in a highly anticipated conference matchup. Despite a last-minute lineup change, the Bluejays showed exactly why they were picked to win the conference in the 83-65 win.
 
The Bluejays dominated the first quarter, building an early 26-11 lead in the first quarter and extending that lead to 44-28 at the half.
 
Tabor never let their foot off the gas, cruising to an 18-point win.
 
Lillie Veer exploded for a season-high 28 points to lead the TC offense, followed by 15 points from Kassidy Beam and 10 points from Ivy Preusser in her first start of the season, with Kloe Bowin flirting with double figures, finishing the game with nine.
 
Beam and Brooke Berlin led the Bluejays on the glass with each grabbing five boards, while Hailey Contreras and Lillie Veer led the team defensively with Contreras picking up three steals and Veer bringing in four defensive boards.
 
"It was a good win over a strong team in a difficult environment", reflected Head Coach Shawn Reed. "I thought offensively we did some great things. We took care of the ball against their various pressure defenses, and we found open teammates for scoring opportunities. I also thought we did a great job of hitting the offensive glass."
 
"Defensively, we have a lot to work on. We are playing a lot of younger players and so we have expected some bumps in the road, but we need to start making some headway. In the first half, we guarded the three-point line really well but then we weren't disciplined in the second half and Ottawa connected on three of four opportunities. We will get those things worked out but there needs to be more urgency in taking steps forward."
 
"Lillie had an incredible game! She has been very efficient this season and her shot selection has been tremendous. Her energy has been a catalyst for our team this year and we value the leadership she provides by playing hard not just in games but practice."
 
The Lady Bluejays return home this weekend to host the Evangel University Valor on Saturday in a 2pm tipoff. The game will be broadcast live on Tabor Webcast as well as the KCAC Network, live stats will also be available.
 
Be sure to stay up to date with all information regarding Bluejay Athletics by following us on X at @gotaborbluejays, on Instagram and Facebook @taborbluejays, and on our official athletic website, taborbluejays.com.
 
Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).