Goshen, IN — The Goshen College women’s basketball team trailed by just seven points at halftime in Tuesday night’s Mid-Central Conference showdown with Spring Arbor University.

The way things were going, however, it might as well have been a 20-point deficit.

After struggling to just a five of 25 shooting effort (20 percent) in the game’s first period, Goshen could not mount enough of a comeback in the second half, falling to Spring Arbor by a 43-53 score at the Roman Gingerich Center. The Leafs did heat up to knock in 10 second half field goals, but could not place any players in double-figure scoring — the first time in head coach Steve Witktorowski’s four-year career that his team was held to such status.

“Poor shooting in the first half really put us in a hole tonight,” Wiktorowski said. “We made a good run in the second half but had some breakdowns at the end. We made some improvements on both ends, but we’ll have to be more efficient offensively if we want to have a chance at winning in this conference.”

Goshen (1-8, 0-2) stayed close to the visiting Cougars throughout the first half due in large part to a sound defensive effort, holding Spring Arbor to a nine for 24 performance from the field (37.5 percent) en route to a 16-23 halftime deficit. Had Goshen been more efficient in that same time frame (the team made just one of 11 three point attempts while knocking in five of eight free throws), it very well could have possessed a lead at the midway mark. Instead, Spring Arbor used its first-half surge to ignite a run out of the gates in the second period, outscoring Goshen by a 11 to two count in the half’s first three minutes to take a 34-18 advantage, the Cougars’ largest lead of the night.

Wiktorowski’s team was able to respond with a 15 to three run of its own over the game’s next six minutes, cutting the Spring Arbor lead to just 36-33 with 11:17 to play. The Cougars were able to push their lead back to 11 points (33-44) at the 6:25 mark, however, and Wiktorowski’s team could only get to within six points down the stretch. Spring Arbor connected on its final four shots from the field, helping hold off a valiant Leafs’ effort.

“Even with our poor shooting, this was our most competitive game for 40 minutes since our rash of injuries,” Wiktorowski said. “Our defense made some big improvements tonight and we had some moments where it was very difficult to play against. If we can continue that level of competitiveness on defense while cutting down on turnovers, we can improve a great deal overall as a team.”

Sophomores Kelsy McKee and Jess Buller along with freshman Troyanna Scott led Goshen’s offensive effort, each scoring eight points. McKee and Scott each collected a team-high seven rebounds, while Buller dished out a team-best three assists. Freshman Rachel Canen scored seven points and collected six boards, while sophomore Carly Feldman totaled six and four.

The Leafs did turn the ball over 20 times, but Wiktorowski was benefited by the return of sophomore point guard Sarah Arnold in uniform. After suffering a potentially frightening knee injury last week in practice, Arnold was cleared to play by medical personnel on Monday. And while Arnold saw just nine minutes of action against Spring Arbor — she scored two points at the free throw line while missing one attempt from the floor — her return should help bolster Goshen’s ball handling efforts. Senior Jennifer Rupp, who slowly is working back into playing shape following an ACL injury and surgery, did not dress Tuesday night but has begun practicing with the team.

Those returns can only help the squad, as a daunting MCC schedule has only begun to unfold. Goshen will next host MCC rival Marian College on Saturday. Game time is set for 1 p.m.