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NOV.
19-20 — Leafs Put Forth Positive Showing At Olivet
Team
knocks off NAIA Div. I-ranked Campbellsville but falls to
host squad |
Bourbonnais,
IL — Competing in arguably the most talented four-team
tournament in recent memory, the Goshen College women’s
basketball team proved it could play with upper echelon teams
at this weekend’s Olivet Nazarene University Holiday Inn
Express Tournament. After knocking off ninth-ranked NAIA Division
I Campbellsville University (KY) 63-57 in the tournament’s
opener, the Leafs couldn’t fend off a fierce Olivet Nazarene
team — also NAIA Div. I — in a 78-91 loss in the
event’s championship contest.
“This tournament was a real positive experience for us,” said Steve
Wiktorowski, Goshen head coach. “We competed well against two quality higher
division teams at a difficult place to play. Most importantly, our offense took
a real step forward overall as we began to execute better and develop a much
more balanced offense.”
That offense was on full display against Campbellsville in the tournament opener,
as Goshen (4-3, 0-0) opened the night shooting 14 of 22 from the field (63.6
percent) in taking a 41-28 lead at the half. Campbellsville was able to close
the gap slightly in the second period by outscoring the Leafs 29-22, but Goshen’s
nine for 14 effort from three-point range (64.3 percent) on the night was enough
to foil the Lady Tigers’ bid for a comeback.
Senior Erin McDugle led the way in the opening game, scoring 23 points on just
a seven for eight performance from the floor. Classmate Candice Williams chipped
in 19 points, while freshman Kelsy McKee notched 10 points. That threesome went
a perfect eight for eight from behind the arc, and helped Wiktorowski’s
team grab a 12 of 18 (66.7 percent) free throw line advantage (Campbellsville
attempted only six foul shots on the night). Goshen also held the Lady Tigers
to a 25 of 59 effort from the field (42.4 percent), while Campbellsville finished
a miserable two of 21 from three-point land on the evening.
“Candice played really well for us Friday, and Erin McDugle continued to
be steady as she showed signs of health and stamina, “Wiktorowski said. “It
was a good win over a quality opponent.”
After Olivet Nazarene walked over Trinity Christian College 111-63 in Friday’s
other first-round game, the Leafs would have to beat a high-pressure defensive
team on its own court to take the championship. And while Wiktorowski’s
team again came out sizzling on offense — a 16 for 27 effort from the field
(59.3 percent) found the Leafs down just 50-54 at the intermission — Goshen
could not overcome a season-high 35 turnovers in the 78-91 loss to the host Tigers.
After leading 17-6 with 16:32 to play in the first half, an 11 to nothing Olivet
run tied the game at 17 with 13:26 to play. From that point on, the game was
nip and tuck — until the 10:27 mark. Olivet took a 26-25 lead at that point,
and never surrendered the advantage for the remainder of the afternoon. Goshen
was able to get within six points on several occasions in the second half — including
being down just 76-82 with 2:17 remaining — but Olivet responded with a
nine to two run to close the game out.
McDugle paced four Leafs in double-figure scoring, notching 19 points to go
with
nine rebounds. McKee wasn’t far behind, tallying 18 points on five for
10 shooting to go with a game-high 11 rebounds. Williams chipped in 14 points
in the loss, while junior Jennifer Rupp scored 10 in 15 minutes of work. Goshen
was able to outrebound the Tigers by a 52 to 44 count on the afternoon, but couldn’t
pace the host team’s three-point clip, as Olivet Nazarene went 16 for 44
behind the arc (36.4 percent) compared to Goshen’s three for 12 effort
(25 percent).
“Again, many people contributed on Saturday,” Wiktorowski said. “Kelsy
played extremely well, and Jennifer Rupp was steady off the bench. Danielle Haney
played good interior defense and (junior) Ashley Woodlee helped get us off to
a great start Saturday. We have shown marked improvement each week so far this
year, and hopefully that will continue into the pre-Christmas part of our conference
schedule.”
As a result of their play, both McDugle and McKee were named to the all-tournament
team. Trinty Christian defeated Campbellsville 75-69 in the consolation game.
With the addition of Spring Arbor University to the Mid-Central Conference this
year, a slew of league games will take place prior to the semester break. Goshen
will open MCC play Tuesday night, when the team hosts the University of St. Francis.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. |
  Sophomore
Ashley Hegerfeld
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