Box Score MCPHERSON, Kan. – The Lady Bluejays approached this midweek conference matchup with lots of momentum, having delivered impressive performances in the previous week's games against Southwestern and Oklahoma Wesleyan. In last week's matchups, Tabor showcased a formidable defensive presence by securing a total of 64 defensive rebounds while also outscoring their opponents on the other end of the court in both contests. Throughout the week, four Bluejays posted double-digit scoring performances, with Lillie Veer and Kassidy Beam achieving the feat in both games. The Bluejays' strong offensive and defensive efforts in those contests set the stage for another competitive outing. 

Tabor made the short trip to face their Highway 56 rival this evening, the McPherson Bulldogs, for the second time this season. The two KCAC teams last met in early December, when the Bluejays secured a dominant 86-60 victory in Hillsboro. As they stepped onto the Bulldogs' home court, Tabor aimed to extend their four-game winning streak against McPherson which dates back to early 2023. 

Two solid minutes into the first quarter, Miyah McGee scored the first points of the game for either side with a layup. Lillie Veer started out hot, sinking two three-pointers and scoring a total of eight points in the first quarter. Hailey Contreras and Adrian Hazelwood also contributed to the Bluejays' 14-point lead going into the second quarter. At this point, Tabor was shooting 58.3% from the field and 75% from beyond the arc. 

The second quarter helped build the Lady Jays' lead against the Bulldogs, with Alyvia Owens sinking two early free throws and a tip-in to put Tabor up 29-7. Kassidy Beam, the McPherson native, sunk two back-to-back three-pointers, along with Madie McCoy's follow-up three. Kloe Bowin put up four points in the second quarter as well. Tabor went into the half with a 24-point lead, outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 45-21. 

Veer, Beam, and McCoy continued to shoot lights out in the second half, and the team put up a combined 28 points in the third quarter, while McPherson was only able to put up 11.  Some familiar faces joined the game not much later, with Brooke Berlin, Kaylee Kauffman, Kya Thornton, and Tayton Smith getting some solid minutes. Smith put up six points, Kauffman followed with five, while Malynn Beil contributed with two. Tabor concluded the game with a 40-point win against McPherson, 91-51.

Three Lady Bluejays reached double figures in scoring tonight, with Veer leading the way (19), while Beam and McCoy each contributed 13. Tabor shot a combined 59.3% from the field and 52.2% from the three-point line. Free throws came in clutch for the Bluejays as well, sinking 15 out of 19 total (78.9%). The Lady Bulldogs struggled on offense, shooting 2-10 (20%) from beyond the arc and 20-49 (40.8%) from the field. Tabor forced 22 turnovers and secured 28 total rebounds while maintaining a strong disciplined defense.

"We are really proud of the way we played tonight," remarked Head Coach Shawn Reed. "Although McPherson has struggled this year, they still play hard and are well coached and it is never easy to win at Mac."

"Offensively, I thought we moved the ball well and found open shooters in rhythm. We had 23 assists on 32 made shots tonight which is outstanding. On the defensive end we did a good job of creating turnovers which also led to some points in transition. We weren't excited about our defense late in the game but the mistakes we made can be fixed."
 
"We had some really impressive individual productivity tonight. Our starters in particular had some very efficient minutes but we also had strong production from our bench. Lillie in particular had an excellent stat line. She was 6 of 7 from the field including going 4 of 5 from the three-point line. Lillie also went 3 of 3 from the FT line, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 5 assists with no turnovers."
 
"We don't have time to relish this win. Sterling comes to Hillsboro on Saturday and they are playing very well. They have a veteran group and we will have to play very well if we want to be successful."

After yet another outstanding performance, the Lady Bluejays now turn their focus to Saturday's matchup against Sterling College, where they will take on the Warriors—one of the KCAC's most dominant opponents. Sterling will enter the contest with an overall record of 13-8 and a 9-6 record in KCAC play. Tabor moves on to a 13-7 overall record and will remain 11-4 in KCAC play. The last matchup between these two teams resulted in a 10-point win for the Bluejays almost exactly one year ago. Tabor holds a 12-10 record while facing the Warriors on their home court and are currently riding a two-game winning streak against them.

With momentum on their side, the Lady Bluejays are poised for another thrilling showdown against a tough Sterling squad. With a strong home record against the Warriors and recent success in the rivalry, Tabor will look to extend their winning streak and solidify their standing in KCAC play. Be sure to come out to the Tabor College Gymnasium this Saturday (Feb. 1) at 5 p.m. to watch the Lady Bluejays take on Sterling in a competitive matchup as they battle for another crucial KCAC victory in front of their home crowd. 

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).