Cold-Shooting Maple Leafs Drop Season Opener At IUSB
November 7, 2009
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Just four days after the Goshen College men’s basketball team struggled shooting the ball in a season-opening loss at Indiana University – South Bend, the Maple Leafs women’s team suffered a similar fate on Saturday.
Goshen hit just 26% from the field and went 0-for-13 from long range as they fell to the host Titans by a 75-48 count in their first game of the season.
“I didn’t think the final score was very indicative of our effort today,” said head coach Steve Wiktorowski. “I thought we battled very hard and did some good things that we can build on that will show on the scoreboard in the near future.”
This was especially true in the first half as the teams traded the lead six times to go along with six tied scores. The last tied score was 22-22 at 5:48 in the first half. The Titans, then, closed out the half on an 11-1 run as they took a 36-26 lead into the break.
“We hung right with them until late in the first half when we got into foul trouble and we had some kids come off the bench and do some very positive things,” Wiktorowski said. “So, despite both teams playing a very physical and ugly early season game with a lot of turnovers, I feel we will get our offense going and play much better offensively here soon.”
In the second half, Indiana University South Bend was able to stretch their lead as they shot 52%. Goshen, meanwhile, was able to drop in just 5-of-20 from the field.
“One of our best offensive players, Heather Hahn, was injured in practice on Friday and didn’t play today and I know we can shoot the basketball much better than today,” Wiktorowski added. “We showed some improvement on defense from our scrimmages, rebounded well and caused some turnovers.”
Despite the offensive struggles, nine different Maple Leafs entered the scoring column, led by senior Lindsay Gangloff who scored ten off the bench. Junior Cassie Greives added eight points and six rebounds for Goshen.
“I thought Jenna Rusmisel had a nice floor game as a freshman with just two turnovers against a very high pressure defensive team,” explained Wiktorowski. “Jess Carney and Erica Emanuel also gave us a nice lift off the bench in the
first half.”
The Leafs will host Indiana Tech on Wednesday before hosting the Riverbend Roundball Review Friday and Saturday with Ohio Dominican, Bethel, and Cardinal Stritch.
Wiktorowski concluded, “We now have several home games in a row and hopefully our offense will begin to take shape now that we have this first one out of the way.”
