Spring Arbor, MI — Goshen College sophomore center Carly Feldman outdid herself again Wednesday night at Mid-Central Conference rival Spring Arbor University, scoring a new career-high 23 points just five days after scoring 22 points against the University of St. Francis.

It’s too bad most of her teammates weren’t in uniform to see it.

With only eight players dressed for play Wednesday night, the Goshen College women’s basketball team dropped a heartbreaking 65-66 decision at Spring Arbor, losing a nine-point lead in the second half in what might have been the team’s most valiant effort of the season to date. With freshman post player Troyanna Scott missing her second straight game with a quadriceps strain and classmates Kendra Fights and Rachel Canen quarantined at Goshen awaiting the results of mononucleosis tests, head coach Steve Wiktorowski nearly guided his team to its first road win of the year on a lonely bench.

“I was again very proud of our effort tonight,” Wiktorowski said. “Considering our (recent) leading scorer, Rachel Canen and starting forward, Kendra Fights were both left at home awaiting results of tests for mono and Troyanna Scott still out with a quad injury, I thought we competed extremely well. A couple of tough breaks went against us and (Spring Arbor) ended up pulling it out right at the end on their own court. But it could have gone either way, and we hung in there at a couple crucial breaking points.”

The limited roster did not appear an issue for Goshen (5-19, 1-9) early on, as Wiktorowski’s team shot out to a 39-30 halftime advantage behind a 14 for 32 first-half shooting clip (43.8 percent). That lead was generated behind a 15 to two run that turned a 13-19 deficit at the 12:10 mark into a 28-21 lead with 5:14 remaining in the first period. Six of the Leafs’ eight available players scored during that stretch, while a seven to two Goshen run closed the half to give Wiktorowski’s team its largest lead of the night at the intermission.

“We had our nine-point lead after completely controlling the first half,” Wiktorowski said. “We had some turnover problems and had trouble scoring for a long stretch in the second half, but were still in a position to win it at the end.”

Without Scott, Fights and Canen in uniform — a trio that has made up nearly half of the Leafs’ scoring on the season — their absences became apparent as the second half got underway. Goshen still held a nine-point advantage three minutes into the period (41-32), but the Cougars began chipping away. Spring Arbor took advantage of a four and a half minute Leafs’ scoring drought, putting on a 15 to nothing run to capture a 47-41 lead with 12:41 to play. From there, Feldman and sophomore Kelsy McKee began to take over on the offensive end, combining to score Goshen’s next four baskets to close the gap to 51-52 with 8:27 remaining in the contest.

Following a basket by sophomore Sarah Arnold, it was Feldman going to work inside again, scoring a pair of baskets in the span of 30 seconds to reclaim a 57-54 Goshen lead with 6:13 remaining. A neck-and-neck finish would ensue, with the lead trading hands 11 times and the score tied on eight occasions.

With 1:09 on the clock, junior Danielle Haney hit two crucial free throws to tie the game at 62-62. Goshen was unable to get a defensive stop on its next trip down the floor, as Spring Arbor converted a driving layup to make it a 64-62 contest with :44 remaining.

Wiktorowski elected to get the ball to Feldman on the Leafs’ next possession, and the center was fouled. She missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity, however, and Spring Arbor collected the rebound. Forced to foul, the Cougars made both free throw attempts with :22 on the clock, making it a 66-62 lead. McKee was able to rattle home a three pointer with :09 on the clock to cut the lead to 65-66, but Goshen could not reach the ball in a last-ditch attempt to foul and stop the clock. Spring Arbor had escaped with the one-point win over a depleted Goshen team.

Feldman’s 23 points on nine of 16 shooting was the high point total for both teams, while McKee added 17 on a five of 11 shooting performance from behind the arc. Haney scored 10 points, while Feldman’s 13 rebounds — nine of which came on the offensive end — was tops for the game.

“While some people had higher statistics tonight, I felt everyone came in and really played their roles well, roles that weren’t often reflected in numbers on the stat sheet,” Wiktorowski said. “We have talked a lot lately about getting better at the mental aspects of the game, and I think we have shown great improvement in mental focus, toughness and discipline the last two games. A few weeks ago we could not have competed as well under similar circumstances. Hopefully we can get some of these players back soon so our young players don't burn themselves out mentally by having to play so many minutes late in the season.”

Goshen shot 37.1 percent for the game, dropping significantly thanks to just a nine for 30 second-half performance (30 percent). Conversely, Spring Arbor hit on 15 of 32 second-half field goal attempts (46.9 percent), the main difference in the game. Rebounds (40-39, Goshen) and turnovers (14-12, Spring Arbor) were nearly equal. Goshen scored and attempted more free throws (12 of 17 to the Cougars’ six of 10) but scoring problems late foiled the potential win for the Leafs. In addition to making just nine baskets from the floor in the second half, Goshen committed nine of its 12 turnovers in the game’s final 20 minutes as well.

It is uncertain of whether or not Scott, Canen and Fights will be available for Goshen’s next contest, as the team will travel to 20th-ranked Marian College Saturday afternoon. Check back to this website for updates on player availability. Game time is set for 1 p.m. Saturday in Indianapolis.