HILLSBORO - After battling on even terms for 40 minutes the Tabor women took control in overtime and pulled away from Kansas Wesleyan for a 75-68 Kansas Conference victory Saturday night.
The Coyotes dropped to 19-5 overall and 15-3 in the KCAC while Tabor improved to 15-8 and 13-5.
The game was close throughout: KWU led 16-12 after one quarter, took a 29-28 lead into the locker room at halftime and trailed 44-42 after three quarters.
Jill Stephens' 3-pointer with 1:08 left in regulation gave the Coyotes a 57-54 lead but Tabor scored the next four points and led 58-54 with 9 seconds left. LaMyah Ricks tied it by making the second of two free throws with 4.2 seconds left and a last-second Bluejay shot missed.
KWU led by two three times early in the extra period before Tabor pulled away. The Bluejays scored on their final eight possessions, going 5-for-5 from the field and 7-of-7 at the free throw line.
Ricks got the Coyotes within 69-66 with a field goal with 27 seconds left but Tabor made four consecutive free throws over the next 10 seconds and led 73-66. Ricks scored again to cut the deficit to 73-68 but the Bluejays tacked on two more free throws with 3 seconds remaining to seal it.
"Execution-wise I thought we did a good job," coach Ryan Showman said on the postgame radio show. "I thought we took what was there and gave ourselves a great opportunity to win the game but just came up short. I thought we played well in overtime, but Tabor made just a few more plays."
Ricks led KWU with 19 points, Angel Lee had 14 and Stephens nine on three 3-pointers. The Coyotes shot 44 percent (26 of 59) including 6 of 13 from long range but were 10 of 17 from the foul line.
Kloe Bowin scored 22 points on 8 of 10 shooting for Tabor. The Bluejays shot 55 percent (26 of 47), just 1 of 5 from deep, but made 22 of their 31 free throws attempts.
"I loved the fight and the battle we gave, it just didn't bounce our way tonight," Showman said.