NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — In one of the most dramatic finishes of the season, the Bethel College women's basketball team earned a 64–62 victory over Tabor on Wednesday night inside Thresher Gym. The win moves the Threshers to 10–7 overall and 7–4 in KCAC play, keeping Bethel tied for fifth place in the conference alongside Bethany.
The rivalry matchup featured constant momentum swings and late-game tension. Bethel set the tone early, but Tabor responded with a strong push and eventually grabbed a one-point lead in the closing seconds.
With roughly 16 seconds remaining, what initially appeared to be a go-ahead basket by Madyson McKinzie was overturned after review due to a shot clock violation. Tabor capitalized on the ensuing possession, knocking down a three-pointer to take a 62–61 lead with just seconds left on the clock.
That sequence set the stage for Kendall Locke. On the final possession, Bethel briefly appeared out of rhythm, but Locke delivered when it mattered most—passing to McKinzie, immediately receiving the ball back, and launching a one-handed, fading three-pointer at the buzzer. The shot dropped cleanly through the net as time expired, sending Thresher Gym into a frenzy and sealing a SportsCenter Top 10–worthy finish.
Locke led the Threshers with 19 points, adding six rebounds, six assists, and four steals, while delivering the game-winning basket. Karlee Locke posted a strong double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and McKinzie added 13 points, playing a key role throughout the night despite the late overturned basket.
After a challenging third quarter, Bethel responded with composure, outscoring Tabor 20–17 in the fourth and executing defensively down the stretch to give themselves a chance on the final possession.
Bethel returns to action Saturday on the road, traveling to Ottawa to take on the Braves inside Wilson Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 2:00 PM.