HILLSBORO, Kan. – Following last Saturday's overtime win against top-ranked Kansas Wesleyan, the Lady Bluejays set their sights on another home contest against a formidable KCAC opponent, the Swedes of Bethany College.

Due to inclement weather conditions on Wednesday, the game was postponed to Thursday afternoon. Tabor's previous matchup with Bethany earlier this year resulted in a 5-point loss for the Bluejays. This time around, Tabor looked to use their momentum from the past three weeks' crucial wins to propel them to yet another conference victory. 

It was a slow start for Tabor's offense as they quickly took an 18-point deficit in the first quarter. Lillie Veer, Alyvia Owens, and Adrian Hazelwood were the lone scorers for Tabor during the first 10 minutes. On the other end of the court, nine Swedes each contributed to Bethany's 25 total points in the first quarter. Jaden Newfarmer, who recorded a double-double in her last KCAC outing, led the Swedes in scoring throughout the afternoon. 

Going into the second quarter, the Bluejays started working to bridge the gap, with Madie McCoy sinking two crucial three-pointers. Kassidy Beam and Kya Thornton also each contributed with a three-pointer of their own. Tabor shot 80% from the beyond the arc and 53.8% from the field at this point in the game. The Bluejays added 18 points to their total as they went into halftime still trailing the Swedes, 25-42.

The second half proved to be a daunting task for Tabor, who had struggled to keep up with the sharpshooting Bethany offense during the first 20 minutes of play. McCoy opened the second half with two more three-pointers, setting the momentum for the remainder of the game. Throughout the third quarter, the Lady Bluejays managed to come back to a nine-point deficit, making much more progress.

Tabor locked down on defense in the last quarter, holding Bethany to only 14 points in comparison to their own 27. A 75% free throw average along with a 50% field goal average assisted Tabor in their comeback efforts during the fourth quarter. With six minutes left of regulation, Tabor finally took their first lead of the game. A few clutch free throws from Veer and Owens sealed the victory for the Lady Bluejays as the buzzer sounded. From what was once a 20-point deficit, Tabor rallied during the second half to claim a 68-64 victory over Bethany. 

Owens and McCoy led the Bluejays in scoring, combining for 33 points. McCoy shot 5-8 from beyond the arc and also grabbed three rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Owens shot 8-9 from the free throw line and 5-7 from the field, scoring 18 points on the evening. Veer shot 100% from the free throw line and secured four rebounds, four assists, and one steal. 

"It was a crazy comeback win," exclaimed Head Coach Shawn Reed. "Our start was very disappointing, and we dug ourselves a really big hole. My hats off to Bethany on how hard they played to start the game. They came out punching and we had little to no fight or even a response. Obviously, I am not doing enough to get us prepared to start games and I need to do a better job."

"In the second half, we looked more like ourselves at both ends of the court. We started to get some stops, and we created some turnovers which helped us score some buckets in transition. Madie hit some huge threes for us early in the second half and Alyvia was outstanding on the interior. Alyvia had some huge offensive rebounds and did a tremendous job of making free-throws. When we finally took a lead, you could feel the game change and I am proud of our effort in the second half."

"We had to expend a lot of energy to forge that comeback and now we have one day to prep and rest for a really good Saint Mary squad. We will see how much this game affects us on Saturday."
 
The Lady Bluejays' thrilling comeback victory over Bethany showcased their resilience and determination, overcoming a significant early deficit to secure a well-earned conference win. With standout performances from Owens, McCoy, and Veer, Tabor's second-half surge highlighted their ability to adapt and execute under pressure. 
 
Despite a slow start, their defensive adjustments and clutch shooting proved decisive in shifting the momentum. As they turn their focus to their next matchup against Saint Mary, the Bluejays will look to carry this hard-fought win forward, building on their momentum as they continue their conference campaign.
 
The Lady Bluejays face a quick turnaround for another home game this Saturday, hosting the University of Saint Mary for Senior Night. Be sure to come out and support these seniors that have contributed greatly to the Bluejays' great success over the past few years. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. in the Tabor College Gymnasium. 

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).