(Box Score) Grand Rapids, MI — Facing its second difficult road test in its first three games of the season, the Goshen College women’s basketball team dropped an 80-56 decision at Aquinas College Saturday afternoon.
The host Saints — receiving votes in this year’s NAIA Top 25 Pre-Season Poll — fell behind only once in the loss, allowing Goshen to score the first bucket of the game. Aquinas tied the score at 2-2 just 31 seconds later, however, and never looked back.
“I thought we were much more competitive overall today on the road against a big and strong Aquinas team,” said Steve Wiktorowski, Goshen head coach. “I thought we were pretty competitive up until about the last six minutes of the game. Even though the final score wasn’t close, I felt there were some definite positives, especially on offense. We were more competitive for the game than the final score indicated.”
Goshen (1-2, 0-0) posted a season-best 59.1 percent clip from the field during the first half of Saturday’s action, going 13 for 22 overall. That mark was offset by turnovers, as Aquinas captured a 40-31 lead at halftime thanks largely to more shot attempts: Despite only connecting on 43.2 percent of its first-half tries, the Saints led after shooting 16 for 37 from the field.
Wiktorowski’s team would eventually commit 27 turnovers — six and a half more errors than what the team had averaged in its first two contests — en route to shooting 12 less shots than the hosts on the day. Goshen outrebounded the Saints by a 35 to 29 difference, but only could convert four of seven total free throws (57.1 percent) compared to Aquinas’ 13 of 18 performance (72.2 percent).
Aquinas would eventually score 24 points off of Goshen turnovers. The Leafs were able to capitalize for just seven points off Saints' mistakes.
“The biggest difference was turnovers as we had 27 ourselves and only forced nine from them,” Wiktorowski said. “We did a decent job of keeping track of their shooters and shot better ourselves overall, but couldn't generate much offense from our defense like we want to do or shoot enough free throws.”
Junior Kendra Fights led the Leafs’ scoring efforts, notching 15 on a seven for 15 shooting performance. Sophomore Lindsay Gangloff chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds in just 23 minutes of work, going five for seven from the field.
No other Leaf scored in double figures in the loss, as senior Katie Sowers and junior Krystal Duensing were next in line, scoring eight points apiece. The Leafs' 47.1 percent overall shooting mark (24 of 51) was the team's highest percentage of the season to date.
“After our guards played and scored well on Thursday, I felt our inside players took a step forward today with their scoring and in outrebounding Aquinas,” Wiktorowski said. “I thought Kendra Fights and Lindsay Gangloff made clear strides today. Both played more minutes and responded with improved confidence and offensive production near the basket, something we have been looking for from both players. I also thought that (freshman) Cassie Greives played a nice game for a freshman against one of the strongest post players in the nation and held her own. It was also nice to see Krystal Duensing hit a couple threes, something she struggled with our first two games. If we can continue the scoring off our offense that we had today and combine it with some scoring off our defense like we had our first two games, then I think our young team can become pretty competitive for 40 minutes against a lot of teams.”
Goshen will return to the Roman Gingerich Center for its next contest, hosting Siena Heights University on Wednesday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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Sophomore Lindsay Gangloff