HILLSBORO, Kan. – Following Thursday's thrilling 68-64 win over Bethany College, Tabor looked to fine-tune their offensive performance during a quick two-day turnaround. The Lady Bluejays hosted the University of Saint Mary Spires for senior night on Saturday evening. 

Having won eight of their last ten games, the Lady Bluejays sought to further enhance their conference record today as they worked toward securing a top spot in the KCAC. Throughout history, Tabor holds a 36-10 record against the Spires, with a 17-5 record on their home court. 

Tabor's last matchup with Saint Mary earlier this year resulted in a nail-biting 53-51 win over the Spires. Nine Bluejays contributed to the Lady Bluejays' offensive performance, with Madie McCoy and Lillie Veer leading scoring efforts for the team. During that contest, McCoy shot 2-2 from the three-point line and secured one block, one steal, and five defensive rebounds. 

Going into Saturday's contest, Saint Mary was shooting an impressive 72% from the free throw line and averaging 40.3 rebounds per game. Conversely, Tabor holds a free throw average of 72.3%, while the Bluejays average 31.6 rebounds per game.

Madie McCoy extended her three-point streak in tonight's game, scoring the first points for the Bluejays beyond the arc. Tabor kept a small lead throughout the first quarter, with several Bluejays sinking some key shots throughout. 

Going into the second, Tabor held a 19-15 lead against the Spires. A few free throws from Kloe Bowin contributed to the Bluejay offense as well. Tabor held Saint Mary to only four points in the second quarter and scored fourteen of their own, extending their lead to 33-19 at halftime. 

Alyvia Owens put some vital points up on the scoreboard throughout the entire game, totaling 17 on the evening. Saint Mary outscored Tabor in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to just six points and setting up a tense fourth quarter for Bluejay fans.

The Spires came into the fourth quarter looking to take the lead, but they couldn't find much momentum as the Bluejays continued to pull away. Tabor gained another KCAC victory as they defeated Saint Mary 67-56.

A few other Bluejays joined Owens in double figures, including Miyah McGee (11), McCoy (14), and Bowin (10). Overall, Tabor shot 42.6% from the field and 70.4% from the free throw line. The Bluejays acquired 31 rebounds, four steals, and four blocks on the evening.

"It was good to get off to a better start tonight," exclaimed Head Coach Shawn Reed. "Saint Mary's has excellent guards, and I thought we did a good job guarding them especially in the second quarter. Offensively, we were very efficient in the first quarter but in the second quarter we had trouble scoring consistently and we had too many turnovers."
 
"The third quarter we gave up some easy transition buckets and a couple of wide open three-point shots that really allowed Saint Mary to start to gain some momentum. In the fourth quarter, our defense was better and we got the ball inside more and that allowed us to pull away."
 
"I thought our post/forwards carried us again tonight. Alyvia, Madie and Kloe all scored in double figures and were able to find different ways to score. Miyah also had a strong game with 11 points and five rebounds, and I thought she worked really hard on the defensive end of the floor."
 
"It doesn't get any easier for us as we finish the regular season with tough road games at Bethel and Avila. Bethel really took it to us the first time we played at Tabor and Avila has been improving throughout the year. Both places are difficult places to earn a victory so we will need to be at our best to compete."
 
This victory puts the Bluejays at an overall record of 17-8 and a conference record of 15-5. Saint Mary drops to a 12-14 overall record and an 11-9 record in KCAC play. Next week, the Bluejays look to round out the regular season with two road games against Bethel and Avila. Tip-off on Wednesday is set for 6 p.m. in the Thresher Gym. 

Tabor celebrated six seniors tonight, including Madie McCoy, Amiya Mack, Kassidy Beam, Grace Wright, Mallorie Pearson, and Sally Wine. Each of these girls has contributed to the Tabor team in a unique and meaningful way. Their dedication, hard work, and leadership have left a lasting impact on the program. From thrilling victories to hard-fought battles, they have embraced every challenge with determination and heart.
 
As they take the next steps in their journeys, their legacy will continue to influence the program for years to come. Tabor is grateful for their contributions and wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.
 
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).