Leavenworth, Kan.- The University of Saint Mary Women's Basketball team hosted the Tabor College Blue Jays on Saturday, resulting in a 63-65 loss,  and bringing an end to the best start to conference play in program history. The Spires are now 14-4 overall and 11-1 in the KCAC. 

The game between the Spires and the Blue Jays got off to a rocky start. Missed shots and early foul trouble in the first quarter ended with the Spires leading 12-9. At the beginning of the second quarter, a steal caused by Tabor led to an easy layup and brought the game down to one. A layup made by Demi Aamold put the Spires back up by three. Tabor answered back with a three of their own to tie the game at 14-14. This was a back-and-forth game going into the half.

Out of the break, layups by Alyche Brown and Tanea Sims extended the Saint Mary lead to five. The Blue Jays answered back with a made jump shot and two free throws to make it a one-point game again. With five minutes left to go in the third, layups by Paige Pendley and Keely Barnard helped the Spires extend the lead back up to six. The Spires had an 11-point 42-31 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Tabor started the fourth quarter going on an 11-0 run. A foul by the Spires put at Tabor's end, allowing them to take the lead. The Spires went up by four points as time wound down, but the Blue Jays were not backing down. With 30 seconds left, the Spires were down by two. A critical shot by Sims helps the Spires tie the game back up at 57-57, forcing overtime.

Trying to continue their momentum, the Blue Jays went on a 5-0 run to open the first overtime period and took a 62-57 lead. A three-pointer by Aamold and a layup by Pendley cut the lead down to one. A foul by the Spires put the Blue Jays at the line, going one for two to win the game. Keely Barnard led the Spires with 22 points, while Tanea Sims had 19 points and 12 rebounds on the night.

Up next

Saint Mary will hit the road to take on York University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in York, Nebraska.