TABOR, Kan. -- In a game where neither team led by more than eight points, Tabor College held on for a 71-67 victory over the Bellevue University women's basketball team in the final game of the Tabor College Classic Saturday afternoon.
Both teams are receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches Poll.
With the loss, the Bruins fell to 3-4 on the season. Tabor improved to 3-1 overall.
Faith Ross led the Bruins with 19 points, six rebounds, and four steals. She went 4-for-5 in 3-point attempts.
Elexis Martinez added 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a pair of blocks.
Asha Scott finished with nine points and five boards.
Tabor was paced by Sammy Jo Peterson and Zoe Shieldnight who both finished with 16 points. Alyvia Owens nearly recorded a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds, while adding four assists and a pair of steals.
Ross scored seven points and added two rebounds as BU built a 16-13 advantage after the first quarter of play.
After a 3-pointer by Ross gave the Bruins a 28-22 lead with 3:23 left before halftime, TC closed the half on a 6-0 run knot the contest at 28 apiece.
Ross led BU in the first half with 15 points and a pair of rebounds.
Peterson paced the Bluejays with 12 first-half points.
The third quarter featured two ties and five lead changes. Tabor scored five-straight points after Martinez tied the contest, giving the Bluejays a 42-37 lead with 6:24 left in the quarter.
Four-straight points by Asha Scott pulled BU to within one point at 42-41 at the 4:30 mark of the third frame.
A 3-pointer by Kassidy Beam pushed the TC advantage to 49-41 at the 2:38 mark before BU went on a 9-2 run capped by a layup from Martinez to pull to within one point at 51-50. A pair of free throws by Shieldnight made it 53-50 heading into the final quarter.
Tabor scored the first five points of the fourth frame to build an eight-point lead and BU never got closer than three points the remainder of the contest as TC held on for the 71-67 victory.
The Bruins will travel to Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, Nov. 17 to battle Grand View University beginning at 6 p.m.
