SPRING ARBOR, Mich.- The Goshen College women's basketball team lost to conference foe Spring Arbor 72-50 Wednesday in Michigan.
"I thought we came out and played fairly well early in the first half and were pretty even at about the midway point as we really tried to focus on taking better care of the ball than we have lately,” said head coach Steve Wiktorowski. “But during the last 10 minutes of the half they went to a half court trap.”
Goshen had anticipated and practiced against the trap, but still turned the ball over 18 times in the first period. Spring Arbor guard Lyndsey Norman further foiled the Leafs first-half efforts, tallying eight points and eight assists. Her assist total bettered Goshen’s team tally at intermission, though the Leafs denied her the double-double by limiting her to one second-half assist.
Spring Arbor held a 34-20 edge at halftime.
Goshen came out in the second half playing much better offensively, limiting their turnover count to nine. Unfortunately, it seemed like every time the Leafs did something well offensively, they gave up an easy bucket and never made the run they needed to get back in the game.
“We battled hard to the end and kept our heads up,” said Wiktorowski. “We know the conference season is young and there is still a lot of basketball left to be played. Turnovers, rebounding and outside shooting were all areas that hurt us tonight.”
The Leafs shot 41 percent from the field, including 17 percent from long-range, while getting out-rebounded 39-24.
First-year Cassie Greives was the only Goshen player to score in double-figures with 10 on the evening, eight of them coming in the first half. Wiktorowski also said Greives played her best post defense of the season. Sophomore Kimmie Hummer scored nine points for the Leafs, while senior Katie Sowers had five rebounds and four assists.
“I thought the Hummer twins did a much improved job of handling the ball tonight and did some good things off the bench along with Kendra Fights. Sowers did a good job against the trap the second half.”
Wiktorowski noted the improved team defense that forced 13 steals, after registering only 7 in the previous game.
The Leafs (6-9, 0-2) will host one of the best teams in the nation in third-ranked St. Francis in another conference contest at 1:00 on Saturday.
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