(Box Score) Goshen, IN — Facing the fourth-most prolific scoring team in the nation Wednesday night, the Goshen College women’s basketball team found the going difficult, dropping a 47-73 decision to Mid-Central Conference rival Bethel College in the Roman Gingerich Center.

Bethel — ranked eighth in the NAIA Division II Top 25 National Poll for each of the last three weeks — entered Wednesday’s tilt averaging 82.1 points per game, the fourth-highest average among NAIA Division II programs. While Goshen (5-13, 0-4) kept the Pilots under that mark, it was an early first-half run from the visitors that effectively painted the landscape of the contest: After a layup from sophomore Troyanna Scott cut an early Bethel lead to just three points (11-8) with 13:21 to play, the Pilots responded with a 23 to six run over the game’s next 11 minutes. By halftime Bethel led 34-16, while the Pilots’ lead would balloon to 36 points in the second half before Goshen settled in.

When the dust cleared, Goshen had committed 22 turnovers, helping Bethel to score 29 points off those errors. For Leafs’ head coach Steve Wiktorowski, it was the test that he expected for his squad.

“I thought we came out very tight early and their experience showed by taking advantage and getting off to a strong start offensively,” Wiktorowski said. “We had a lot of trouble with (Bethel junior Natalie) Young early and (Bethel senior Alicia) Barczak hurt us off the bench. We did a good job of controlling their three-point game the first half, but struggled to stop them 15 feet and in. We did a very good job of controlling (Bethel senior Abby) Noll the first half, but then she got loose too often and hit some threes the second half. They are one of the top offensive teams in the country, but we didn't make them work hard enough to earn points the first half.”

Bethel raced out to a 9-0 lead just three minutes into the start of the action, but a pair of three-point baskets from sophomore Krystal Duensing and the aforementioned layup from Scott pulled Goshen to within an 11-8 score. The Leafs would only score eight more points in the final 13:21, however, allowing Bethel ample opportunity to widen the scoring gap.

It was not until the latter part of the second period that Wiktorowski’s squad began to compete at a high level, as a 24 to six Bethel run to open the period made the score 58-22 with 10:52 remaining. Goshen slowly began to chip away at the margin, closing the game with a 14 to six push to cut into the final margin.

Goshen was only outscored by a 39-31 count in the second period, knocking in eight of 19 field goals (42.1 percent) while getting to the free throw line 18 times after no attempts in the first half. While the Leafs could only connect on 11 of those tries (61.1 percent), the team did knock in four of 10 from three-point range (40 percent) and held Bethel to just four offensive rebounds in the final 20 minutes.

“I thought we competed much better on both ends the second half and played them almost even offensively, but could never make a serious run at them,” Wiktorowski said. “We started to hit some shots, and after not shooting any free throws the first half, shot 18 the second half. So we played harder, attacked better on offense and our press was more effective the second half, so there were many more positives to our second half play versus our first.”

Goshen failed to post any players in double-figure scoring for the fourth time of the season, as freshmen Ashley Hummer and Chloe VanDenBrink led the way scoring nine apiece. VanDenBrink finished three for four from the field, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out an assist in 22 minutes of work. Hummer, meanwhile, was three for six from the floor — all from behind the arc. Junior Katie Sowers scored eight points and grabbed a team-best six rebounds. Duensing finished with six points and three assists. Freshman Kimmie Hummer chipped in five points and four rebounds.

“Chloe VanDenBrink and Ashley Hummer both shot the ball well, but we didn't get them enough shot attempts,” Wiktorowski said. “We shot pretty well from three-point range, but have to produce more points inside the arc and shoot a higher percentage at the line.  The biggest difference in the game statistically was their getting almost 20 more shot attempts and scoring 29 points to our three on turnovers. Hopefully we can carry over some of the second half positives to a tough road game on Saturday and keep improving offensively.”

Goshen will look to capture a rare double-whammy on Saturday when the team travels to MCC foe Grace College. The Leafs hope to earn both their first road and conference win of the season in Lancer Gymnasium. Game time is set for 1 p.m.