Hillsboro, Kan. – The Tabor College women's basketball team came up just short this past weekend as the Lady Jays dropped two, tightly contested games as the annual Tabor College Classic held in Hillsboro, Kan.

On Friday the Lady Jays fell to Midwest Collegiate Conference foe Iowa Wesleyan College and on Saturday they came up short against NAIA division I and Heart of America Athletic Conference opponent Baker University.

Friday, the Lady Jays could not maintain a strong start as they fell to the Tigers of Iowa Wesleyan College by the score of 63-52.

Tabor, which got off to a fast start would lead by as many as nine points at 17-8 with just over five minutes gone by in the game. The early run was capped off by a three point basket by the Lady Jays Katlyn Mary.

The Tigers however would respond back with a 24-6 run over the next 12 minutes to take its own nine-point lead at 32-23 with 3:07 left to play in the half. Despite the run by the Tigers the Lady Jays would rebound back and close within two at 34-32 heading into the halftime break.

The second half would belong to the Tigers as Iowa Wesleyan led wire to wire in the half on its way to an 11 point victory. Tabor would pull back within three, twice in the half, but that's as close as the Lady Jays could get on the night.

Mary led three Lady Jays in double figures with 15 points while juniors Tynan Honn and Whitney Frise added 11 and 10 points respectively. Honn also led the Lady Jays on the glass with nine rebounds as Tabor lost the battle on the boards by two at 36-34.

Tabor finished the game shooting 39.6 percent from the field and 25 percent from behind the arc while dishing out 14 assists to 20 turnovers.  

Saturday, the Lady Jays gave another strong effort but struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the second half falling to the Wildcats of Baker University by the score of 58-48.

The first half belonged to the Wildcats as Baker scored 35 first-half points to build a nine-point lead heading into the break at 35-26. The lead by Baker was due to a strong half shooting the ball. The Wildcats finished the half shooting 50 percent from both the field and from behind the arc.

In the second half Tabor would tighten on the defensive side of the ball holding Baker to just 23 points and 28.6 percent shooting from the field. Despite the improved defensive effort the Lady Jays offense could not catch up as Baker outscored Tabor by one in the half to earn the 10-point victory.

Tabor was led offensively by sophomore Brittany Shaklee with nine points while Frise added eight points and Honn chipped in with seven points. Junior My-Chal Duncan led the effort on the glass with nine rebounds as Tabor lost the rebounding battle by four at 37-33.

Tabor finished the game shooting 37.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc while dishing out 14 assists to 24 turnovers on the night. Mary led the Lady Jays with four assists in the game.

Tabor (0-4 KCAC, 2-11 Overall) will return to KCAC play Thursday Jan. 5 in Lindsborg, Kan. as the Bluejays take on Bethany College. The junior varsity match is set for 2 p.m. with the varsity match to follow later on that night at 6 p.m.