By Sterling College Athletics
Hillsboro, Kan. – Playing against your conference rival always makes for a great game with lots of energy. Add to that, getting the chance to avenge your team’s only conference loss of the season. Don’t forget that every night there is a game, some of the best players to have taken the court in the history of Sterling College women’s basketball are on display. All of these things combined make a road victory that much sweeter. Sweet was the smell of victory as Sterling handed Tabor a 62-54 loss.
The first quarter was everything you expect from a rivalry game. All the best players showed up ready to play. Tabor jumped out to an early 12-4 lead in the first 5 minutes of play. But the Warriors fought almost all the way back before the end of the first quarter. Sterling finished the quarter on a 9-3 run that brought the tally to just 2. Karson Schultz led the way in Sterling’s late charge scoring 8 first quarter points. Two Warriors were dominating the boards. Taya Wilson finished the first quarter with 5 rebounds and Schultz had 4.
Counting the last basket of the first quarter, Sterling went on an 15-0 run, not allowing Tabor to gain a point for nearly 7 minutes in the second quarter. During the run Sterling opened up a 25-15 lead. In true rivalry fashion, Tabor gathered the troops and finished the half on a 7 point run. At the break, Sterling was hanging on to a 25-22 lead.
Tabor continued their momentum into the third quarter, scoring the first 4 points of the quarter completing an 11-0 answer to the Warrior’s run. The rest of the 3rd quarter was tightly contested. Sterling spent the rest of the quarter playing from behind. They almost came all the way back and tied the score at 38 with 2:46 left in the frame, but back-to-back Bluejay threes gave them a quick 6 point lead right back. Schultz managed one more basket the quarter making it 44-40 heading into the fourth quarter. Early in the quarter, Taya Wilson grabbed her 1,000th career rebound, making her just the second player in modern day Sterling College basketball to achieve such a feat. As she seeks the all-time rebounding record, Mieka Woudstra, is the only name that sits above hers.
Wilson took over in the 4th quarter on this story-book night. Starting the final frame down four points, Sterling raised their intensity on both ends. In the first three minutes of play, Wilson scored 9 straight for the Warriors, including the and-1 that gave Sterling the lead. Sterling held that lead the rest of the way. Sterling pressed on the defensive end and seemed quicker on the offensive end the whole 4th quarter. Sterling scored at a 22-10 advantage in the fourth quarter and came away with a 62-54 win, avenging their only conference loss of the season.
Sterling relied heavily on the well-rounded games of Karsen Schultz and Taya Wilson. Schultz carried Sterling early on and led the team in scoring with 24 points and added 10 rebounds. Wilson shouldered the load down the stretch and ended with 22 points and an incredible 18 rebounds.
The Warriors improve to 15-4 on the season and are 12-1 in the KCAC, holding on to the top seed in the conference. Sterling will have a quick turnaround and travels to York on Monday evening to take on the Panthers. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 pm.
