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Score) Mishawaka, IN — Still searching for its first road and Mid-Central Conference wins of the season and facing a brutal schedule in its last four contests, it is unclear exactly where the Goshen College women’s basketball team found the motivation for Saturday’s performance at third-ranked Bethel College.
Unclear, perhaps, but inspiring nonetheless.
Goshen (5-21, 0-12) nearly chalked up wins in both aforementioned categories in the biggest of ways Saturday, coming within a whisper of knocking off MCC foe Bethel College in a 76-66 overtime loss at the Wiekamp Center. After facing the country’s first- (Indiana Wesleyan University), fourth- (University of St. Francis) and third-ranked (Bethel) teams in three of its last four contests, Goshen saved its most gutsy performance for Saturday, exchanging 14 lead changes and 10 ties with a Lady Pilots’ squad that boasted just a single home loss on its season resume.
Holding the Lady Pilots to a season-low 27 percent shooting clip overall and 18.2 percent percentage from three-point land, it was the visiting Leafs that had multiple chances to win the game in regulation and send shock waves throughout the MCC and the nation.
Sadly, Goshen could not capitalize on those chances, and got behind early in the overtime period.
As the game was extended, Bethel’s talent proved too great.
“Today was a classic conference defensive battle,” said Steve Wiktorowski, Goshen head coach. “Both teams know each other well which made it difficult to score, especially in the first half and from the three-point line. Both teams had a chance to win it in regulation, but were again stopped by good defense. Obviously, we were disappointed to get this close and not win, but I hope that competing well for 45 minutes against that level of competition on their floor will give our young players a much-needed boost of confidence as we head into the last the two weeks of the regular season.”
Wiktorowski’s squad utilized its trademark defense to keep the game at a low-scoring pace from the outset, holding Bethel to just a 10-9 lead with 5:34 remaining in the first half. The Lady Pilots then put on their greatest run of the afternoon, turning that one-point advantage into a 20-12 lead with 3:09 remaining. Goshen answered with a pair of three-point buckets from sophomore Krystal Duensing and senior Danielle Haney, however, and again the game was close (20-18, Bethel). A Lady Pilots’ bucket was matched by a jumper from sophomore Troyanna Scott, while Haney made one of two free throws to make it a 22-21 Bethel lead at the intermission.
“We really struggled with turnovers the first half (Goshen had 18 mistakes) and gave them some extra possessions, but we were able to keep their offense in check enough to go down by only one,” Wiktorowski said. “We talked about cutting down those second-chance opportunities at halftime, and were able to take care of the ball much better the rest of the way.”
Committing just 10 turnovers for the remainder of the game, Wiktorowski’s team again had to pull off a remarkable comeback to stay close. After traded baskets kept the score knotted at 26-26 with 15:07 to play in regulation, Bethel again opened up a gap, this time claiming a 41-32 lead with 9:10 on the clock. A quick, 10 to nothing Goshen run made it a 42-41 Leafs’ lead with 7:49 on the clock, however, and again Wiktorowski’s squad was in business.
“The second half both teams got their offenses going a little better, and we were lucky enough to answer all their runs with some key baskets,” Wiktorowski said.
Bethel again responded with a six to two push to make it a 49-44 contest with 6:28 to play in regulation, but déjà vu happened again: Duensing and Haney drilled back-to-back three pointers, giving Goshen a 50-49 lead with 4:33 remaining.
After the teams traded made free throws, Bethel’s Natalie Young rang in a jumper. Haney again responded, making a layup on Goshen’s next trip to reclaim a 54-53 Leafs’ lead with 2:35 to play.
As defense again became the staple of the game — Bethel and Goshen came up empty on the next four possessions — a controversial technical foul was credited to the Leafs’ bench with 1:30 on the clock. The Lady Pilots’ Abby Noll could only convert one of the two charity attempts, tying the game at 54-54.
Needing a stop, the Leafs forced a miss on Bethel’s next trip.
Haney was fouled in the act of shooting on Goshen’s ensuing possession.
Shooting just her 18th and 19th free throw attempts of the season — Haney missed the Leafs’ first 12 games with a knee injury — she could get neither to fall.
Bethel missed a three pointer on its next trip, and again Goshen had a chance. Duensing drove hard to the basket but couldn’t make a twisting layup stick, and a jumper by Young rattled off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
As the teams took the floor for the extra period, Wiktorowski’s team could not respond from an opening three-ball from Noll. After the Pilots cashed in on a free throw to make it a four-point lead, Duensing made her third three of the game. Bethel scored on its next possession, however, claiming a 60-57 lead with 3:44 on the clock.
Bethel would not make another shot from the field, but Goshen would get no closer.
The Lady Pilots went to the free throw line an incredible 18 times in the extra period’s final 3:15, making 16, in icing the win. Wiktorowski’s team would make four of its seven shots from the floor in the overtime, but a 20 to six discrepancy in overtime free throws attempted was too much to overcome.
“They jumped out front early in the overtime, and while we shot well, we were always behind and forced to foul,” Wiktorowsk said. “They hit their free throws which resulted in the final spread. But I was happy with our defensive awareness and rebounding, and thought our offense looked better the second half as we were able to run a little more and penetrate, and cut down on turnovers.”
Goshen held Bethel to just a 20 of 74 shooting performance for the game (27 percent) while making 20 of 56 attempts on its offensive end (35.7 percent). The Leafs also outrebounded the Lady Pilots by a 52 to 48 count. The key stats for the hosts came in turnovers (Bethel committed just 15 to Goshen’s 28) and free throws (the Lady Pilots knocked in 30 of 38, 78.9 percent to Goshen’s 19 of 28, 67.9 percent.)
Freshman Kimmie Hummer was the high point getter for the Leafs, notching 16 points. Haney and Duensing scored 12 each, while sophomore Kendra Fights provided 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Scott scored nine points and also grabbed eight boards.
“I thought our guard play on both ends was very solid, especially the second half,” Wiktorowski said. “Kimmie Hummer continues to improve and kept us in it with great second half scoring. She and her sister Ashley really made Abby Noll and Natalie Young work for their points today. Kendra Fights and Troyanna Scott gave us very solid inside play, especially defensively and on the boards. Krystal Duensing handled the ball well against their press and gave us leadership on defense. Danielle Haney, playing with the flu, had another nice shooting game and rebounded well.”
Goshen will next suit up for an extremely important MCC contest, as rival Grace College will visit the Roman Gingerich Center on Wednesday. The Lancers have just a single MCC win on the season — against Goshen — as a MCC Tournament berth is still up for grabs between the squads. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
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Senior Danielle Haney