WICHITA, Kan. – In a matchup of two of the top three teams in the KCAC, the Tabor College Bluejays came away with a 58-54 win tonight (Jan. 3) inside the Garvey Center. The Bluejays stay unbeaten in the conference at 7-0, while the Falcons drop to 5-2 in the league.
The Bluejays took control early in the third quarter and maintained command into the fourth, building the lead as high as 15 with 6:28 left in the game.
Friends slowly chipped away, getting six straight points from Rayland Garner that ignited a 10-0 run overall to come within 55-50 with still 1:19 left.
Aided by four misses in six free throw attempts by Tabor, the Falcons made it a one-possession game at 57-54, but an offensive foul was called with six seconds left that allowed the Bluejays to hang on for the win.
Leading 14-13 after one period, the Bluejays pushed the lead to six on a three by Madie McCoy at the 7:37 mark of the second quarter.
The Falcons fought back as a three by Lauryn McIver was sandwiched around scores from Taylor Jackson and Kassie Kinniburgh to give Friends a 23-22 lead.
Tabor then scored the next eight points to lead by seven before Garner scored inside to help the Falcons trim the deficit to 30-26 at the break.
Jackson recorded a double-double of 17 points and 17 boards, with her rebound total the most for the Houston, Texas native since her freshman season in 2021-22. Garner finished with a game-high 20 points along with eight rebounds. McIver led the Falcons (8-5, 5-2 KCAC) with four assists.
McCoy and Kassidy Beam each scored 11 to lead the Bluejays (10-3, 7-0 KCAC), with Alyvia Owens adding 10 points and four assists. Lillie Veer paced Tabor with six rebounds.
Thanks in large part to Jackson's rebounding prowess, the Falcons controlled the interior, holding a 47-31 edge in rebounding while outscoring the Bluejays 26-12 in the paint and 19-2 in second chance points.
But the Falcons were hurt by 26 turnovers compared to just nine for the Bluejays, leading to a 26-10 advantage for Tabor in points off turnovers.
The Falcons will next remain at home and host York University Saturday (Jan. 6) at 1 pm inside the Garvey Center.
