GOSHEN, Ind. – For the third-consecutive home game, the Goshen College men’s basketball team faced an opponent ranked in the NAIA DII Top 10.  Unfortunately, it also become the third-straight time at home that the Maple Leafs could not quite get over the hump.

After trailing by as many as 13 in the first half, Goshen came roaring back eventually closing the half on a 17-5 run to go into the locker rooms up 43-38.  That lead quickly evaporated in the second half, though, as Saint Francis took control with a 15-4 streak of their own.

The Cougars were able to increase their advantage to as many as nine at the halfway point before the Leafs again made a run.  They managed to trim the deficit to two points with 3:07 to play, but a Joey Koriarek 3-pointer gave Saint Francis space again and they took advantage, hitting free throws down the stretch to hold on for the 96-81 victory.

Despite the loss, senior Errick McCollum II had a near career night.  The 6-foot-1 guard has averaged 29 points a game against the Cougars in his career and came one short of his career high with 42 tonight.  McCollum hit 13-of-22 from the field and 12-of-12 from the free throw line.  Junior Daniel Butler II was also in double figures for the Leafs with 10 points to go with a team high nine rebounds.

More to come when available.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Coming off its first Mid-Central College Conference win of the season on Wednesday, the Goshen College women’s basketball team could not find a way to slow the 11th ranked Cougars of the University of Saint Francis.

The home team scored 53 points in the opening period on way to a 101-80 victory.  With the win – coupled with a Indiana Wesleyan loss – the Cougars move into a first-place tie atop the conference standings.  After Spring Arbor’s upset of #4 IWU, the Maple Leafs have some work ahead of them in order to qualify for the postseason tournament.

With a slightly different starting look due to injuries, Goshen got great production from their opening rotation.  Four of five starters finished in double digits, including a game-high 23 from junior Cassie Greives.  One of the main issues, though, was that the Leafs got just seven points from off the bench to the Cougars 43.

Junior Erica Yost finished the afternoon with 15 points, while seniors Heather Hahn and Lindsay Gangloff had 13 each.

More to come when available.

GOSHEN, Ind. – Despite frigid temperatures lingering around the Midwest, the 2010 Goshen College Baseball season opener is just around the corner.  The Maple Leafs will open up this weekend as they make their second trip to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.

Injuries ravaged the 2009 squad as they were shorthanded for nearly all of their 11-45 record.  The biggest incoming class of fifth-year head coach Josh Keister’s tenure, though, has Goshen baseball fans excited about the future of the program.

With the season opener quickly approaching, Keister gives us a look at what to expect.

Pitching Overview

Senior Aaron Coy

The Maple Leafs pitching staff will be heavy on upperclassman this year with five seniors, two juniors, and a sophomore making up eight of the top 10 on the staff.  Aaron Coy showed this fall that he’s is prepared to have a breakout senior year after being inconsistent at times as a junior and will move into the No. 1 spot in the rotation after being used some out of the bullpen last year.

Senior Kraig Miller will move from his spot at shortstop over to first base so he can join the rotation where he will be complimented by fellow senior Matt Fyfe and sophomore Shane Davis.  Junior college transfer Omar Hernandez will handle the back end of the bullpen along with classmate Zach Reed.  Seniors Joel King and Caleb Kitchell will provide valuable middle relief, while a group of promising freshman will also get quality innings this year.  They include Ben Diedring – the only lefty on the staff – along with righties Spencer Oversen, Moises Ramirez, and Lance Good.  Sophomore Jason Crocker had shoulder surgery over the winter and might be available by mid season depending on quickly rehab goes.

Coach Keister’s Pre-Season Pitching Evaluation

“Our pitching is going to be a key for us this year.  We have outstanding depth and talent, but must be consistent which has been our achilles heal in the past.  Aaron Coy has had outstanding strikeout numbers the past couple of years (61 K’s in 51.3 IP last year) but has been inconstant over the course of a whole season.  An incredible work ethic on his strength and conditioning starting at the end of last season paid huge dividends this fall and could help him get an opportunity to pitch at the next level after this season.”

“Matt Fyfe had some things click for him late in the year last year and was outstanding this fall.  Kraig Miller has always been one of our best competitors on the mound and by moving him to first base he has been able to work off the mound a lot more and will be a fixture in the rotation.  Shane Davis was our best pitcher at times last year and has showed that form this winter.  Having confidence in two guys at the back end will be huge as Omar Hernandez and Zach Reed have some of the best stuff on the staff.  We have the luxury this year of being able to establish some roles and hopefully guys will embrace that and feed of each other in putting together a successful season.”

Infield Overview

Junior Zach Reed

The Maple Leaf infield will have a much different and much younger look in 2010.  Senior Kraig Miller will move from shortstop – where he has started for three years – to first base.  Zach Reed has been cleared to play after being on the DL since six games into last season.  He will use his versatility to play second, third, and first at times this year.  Freshman Andrew Brawley will lock down the shortstop position with freshman Brett Hunter to his right at third base.  Freshman Clay Norris and Luke Hucker will both get some time at second base.  Senior Josh Yates and freshman Caleb Yoder will also see time at first base.  Mike Milligan played the middle of the infield this fall but will have to help out in the outfield as well.

Coach Keister’s pre-season infield evaluation

“Although we are obviously very young in the infield we are pretty talented as well.  The infield will have a completely different look than it did the majority of the year last year so it is still a little bit of an unknown commodity.  We have much better depth this year but still must stay healthy.  Our two upperclassman Kraig Miller and Zach Reed both missed the majority of the year last year.  Their health will be key both defensively and what they provide at the plate.  Zach put up incredible numbers in 6 games last year all against ranked opponents (.421 BA, 3 2B) so it is exciting to see how that could translate out over the course of a season.  Kraig managed to put together 97 AB’s last year but most of those came with a torn meniscus in his knee.  His health will be a key for us offensively, defensively, and on the mound.  Our freshman have a lot of talent but must prepare themselves for the demands of a 50-plus game schedule both physically and mentally.  How they handle themselves in adversity will be a major factor in the success of the team this year.”

Outfield Overview

Sophomore Andy Swisher will play all three outfield positions over the course of the season although he will probably get more time if left than the other two.  Transfer Jordan Short had a sensational fall offensively and defensively and will get the starting nod in center field.  Freshman Corey Johnson took firm control of right field this fall despite never having played there before.  His foot speed and arm strength will be a huge asset defensively.  Garrett Cannizzo will get some time in left field when he is not the designated hitter in the lineup and Mike Milligan will provide some much needed depth along with Mike Zehr.

Coach Keister’s pre-season outfield evaluation

“One of the strengths of last year’s team was Swisher’s defense in center field, so that fact that he is moving to left says a lot about the potential of this year’s group.  This will hands down be the best outfield defense we have had in the last decade.  Keeping legs healthy will be a key and getting offensive production will be important as well.”

Catcher Overview

Sean Sears will be starting his fourth year as the Maple Leafs’ primary starter behind the plate.  His arm strength has been a huge asset in controlling the running game but he has worn down late in the season the last couple years.  There is plenty of depth behind him this year in freshman Benjamin Kelly, Corey Johnson, and Nathan Stanley, along with sophomore Garrett Cannizzo.

Coach Keister’s pre-season catcher’s evaluation

“Sears had a breakout season offensively last year (.315 BA, 8 2B, 2 HR) and has looked even better this fall and this winter.  Keeping him fresh over the course of the year will be important so that his production continues to be solid late in the year.  We have great competition for the spots after him and I look for that to make everybody better.”

Designated Hitter Overview

We have a lot of competition and depth at this spot this year.  Garrett Cannizzo and Zach Miller were two of our best hitters last year and both will get a lot of time at designated hitter.  Sean Sears will get some at bat’s there when he is not catching and Josh Yates and Caleb Yoder have the talent to get hot and provide some quality at bat’s at this position as well.

Coach Keister’s pre-season DH evaluation

“We will be able to ride the hot hand at designated hitter due to the amount of talent and depth we have at this position.  Guys need to understand that they need to stay hot to stay in the lineup and embracing that competition will be key to our team dynamic.  I expect big things from this position this year.”

COACH KEISTER’S OVERALL TEAM OUTLOOK

“Following the Metrodome, we will still have several different weeks of indoor practices in between our weekend trips and we must stay motivated during those times and continue to improve.  Our goal is to be playing our best baseball during the end of the season.  We were able to do that last year despite some devastating injuries during the course of the year.  Although our depth is significantly better at every position this year, staying healthy will still be a key for us.  Based on our struggles the last couple of years, we need to win some games early to build a little confidence and if we do that we have enough talent to be in the thick of things in the MCC.  A unique balance of seniors and freshman will create some interesting team dynamics and we must handle that well for us to be successful.  If we play hard and stay mentally tough and focused this should be a fun year.”

Box Score

GOSHEN, Ind. – The wait is over, but it only made it sweeter.  After starting Mid-Central College Conference play 0-10, the Goshen College women’s basketball team got its first league win Wednesday night as they took down Grace College 80-69 inside Gunden Gymnasium.

“We have kept the faith and continued to work hard, and it was so good to break through with a win tonight after competing well but losing lately,” assistant coach Jennifer Steiner said.  “It was a great team effort overall.”

It was a slow start for both sides as junior Cassie Greives scored the first basket of the game at the 17:14 mark.  Despite Goshen scoring the opening points, it was the Lancers who broke out first.  They used an 8-0 run over the next 2:02 to build an 8-2 advantage.

After turning the ball over six times in the first ten minutes, the Maple Leafs found themselves down 23-11 at the midway point of the half.  They came roaring back, though, immediately going on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to just two points.

Minutes later senior Rachel Allen drove the lane for a basket-and-one to tie the score at 30-30.  After a pair of lead changes and two more ties, Goshen took control as senior Lindsay Gangloff hit back-to-back jumpers, including a 3-pointer to give the Leafs a five-point cushion.  Goshen hit 53% from the field in the first half as they took a 40-36 lead into the break, despite allowing the Lancers to grab 12 offensive rebounds.

“After a slow start, we played a solid game on both halves tonight,” Steiner explained.  “We had some trouble keeping them off the offensive boards, but especially in the second half we ripped down a few key rebounds.”

Goshen opened the second period on a 13-2 run giving them a 53-39 lead with 15 minutes to play.  The second half became physical struggle as the teams combined for 25 personal fouls, but Grace was not able to capitalize, hitting just 19-of-32 (59%) from the free throw line.

The Maple Leaf lead never got below eight points after Goshen pulled away early in the half. Junior Erica Yost was able to penetrate the lane in the second period as she scored 13 of her game-high 20 points after the intermission.

“The key to the game was our pushing the ball up the floor and scoring in transition,” added Steiner.  “We got some big baskets inside and shot 49% for the game to help offset their advantage in free throw attempts.”

Yost led all scorers with 20 points, while also dishing out nine assists and grabbing six steals.  Despite foul trouble forcing her to just 16 minutes of play, Greives finished with 16 points, while  Gangloff had 13, including 11 in the first half.

“Lindsay  got us back into the game the first half after a slow start and Erica did a nice job getting into the lane, finding open teammates, and hit her 3-pointers,” Steiner continued.  “With two of our better scorers in foul trouble (Greives and Heather Hahn), Rachel Allen, Sam Hawk and Jessica Harrison came in and gave us a big lift off the bench both halves.”

Goshen heads to NAIA DII #11 University of Saint Francis on Saturday.  The tip is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Fort Wayne.

Morgan Broderick

GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College coaches Jim Routhier (volleyball) and Lee Mast (softball) teamed up to bring in coveted two-sport star Morgan Broderick, the athletic department recently announced.

The Huntington North High School standout was an all conference selection as a libero for the volleyball program in the fall and will enter her third year of varsity softball this spring.

As a senior, Broderick set a new Viking single-season record for digs with 656.  She tallied 10 or more in 28 of the team’s 33 matches and had as many 42 in a September contest against Fort Wayne Snider.  Her 6.48 digs a game led the North Central Conference, which resulted in First Team All NCC honors.  In three varsity seasons, Broderick racked up 1,201 digs, which also put her atop the Huntington North record book.

“We are very fortunate to have signed a great player like Morgan,” said Routhier who will head into his second season next fall.  “She is a tremendously talented libero and is a wonderfully positive individual.  Her work ethic is outstanding. Morgan will fit in well in our program and will help us in our championship run next year.”

The reflexes needed to be a successful libero have also served Broderick well on the softball field.  As a corner infielder for the Vikings, Broderick committed just two errors in nearly 200 attempts (99% fielding percentage) as a junior.  She also batted .314 with 22 hits, 11 RBIs, and four doubles last season.

“I am really excited to have Morgan join our programs,” said Mast.  “The times I have seen her play, she really impressed me with her knowledge of the game, great hand-eye coordination, strong footwork, and speed on the bases.  She also has a super personality, which is something that I always look for in a player.”

Broderick has some additional familiarity in the Maple Leaf program through a former teammate.  Current freshman softball player Stacey Klein played grew up playing with Broderick on the high-level Fort Wayne Fire travel team.

After Broderick finishes her high school career this spring, she will join a growing and talented recruiting class for Maple Leaf volleyball which already includes a pair of Ohio standouts, Stacy Wyse and Chelsea Schmucker.  Heading into the spring, Mast has already added several players to go alongside Broderick in the 2011 class before his 2010 team has even stepped on a field.

WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The Goshen College men’s basketball team snapped its longest losing streak of the season at four with a huge 99-79 victory at Grace College Tuesday night.

“I was very pleased with the energy and intensity we brought to the court tonight,” said head coach Gary Chupp, whose teams have now beaten the Lancers four-straight times.  “We needed a win after several heartbreaking losses and our guys responded.”

Three of the four losses during Goshen’s recent streak came to squads ranked in the top 25, including the last two appearing in the NAIA DII top 10.  Despite the quality of opponents, Goshen’s last three losses came by a combined seven points.

The Leafs have struggled to get rolling early on the road at times this season, but that was not the case Tuesday night.  Goshen scored the first six points of the game on baskets by three different players.

After Grace trimmed the lead to 7-4, the Maple Leafs went on an 8-0 run over the course of three minutes.  Senior Errick McCollum II began to assert himself during the stretch with six of his game-high 34 points during the streak.

Despite resting starters at the midway point of the first half, Goshen was able to increase its lead to 18 with 8:49 left in the period.  The work of the Maple Leaf bench was impressive as they finished the night with 51 points, including five by Nate Manning as they added to their advantage.

The Lancers, though, have proven time and time again to be a tough team to put away, especially at their home venue, the Orthopedic Capital Center.  Grace slowly chipped away at the deficit until a Duke Johnson basket cut it to single digits at 23-31 with 3:38 remaining in the half.

The gap got to as few as seven points before Goshen ended the first period on an 8-0 streak.  Fifty-two percentage shooting by the Leafs – to just 28% by the Lancers – in the opening period allowed Goshen to take a 45-29 lead into the locker rooms.

Six and a half minutes into the second half, Grace had trimmed the deficit back down to 10 points.  A quick 8-0 run over just 1:15 of game time, though, gave the Leafs a comfortable cushion once again.

The lead was more than 20 for most of the final 10 minutes and got as high as 26 on several occations. The Maple Leafs shot a sparkling 55% from the field – including 41% from beyond the arc – as they went on for the season sweep of the Lancers.  After a rough first half offensively, Grace played well in the final 20 minutes as the teams combined for 104 points.

One of the biggest differences was Goshen’s bench, which hit for 51 points and had three players in double figures.  The Leafs leading scorer at more than 24 a game, Errick McCollum, had another outstanding night as he hit 12-of-17 for his 34 points.  It was the combination of Nate Manning (17), Carl Steen (15), and Kyle Davis (12), though, that made the biggest difference off the bench.

“The difference tonight was obviously our bench – they gave us a huge lift, not only in terms of scoring, but also the intensity they brought on the defensive end,” Chupp added.  “E (McCollum) was really good and much more efficient on the offensive end.”

At 5-6 in the Mid-Central College Conference, Goshen hosts #8 Saint Francis on Saturday.  More to come when available.

“When we put that kind of pressure on the ball, we can beat anybody,” Chupp concluded.

The pair are the first two to sign on for 2010 as Yoder looks to replace six seniors who will graduate in the spring.  The Maple Leafs are hoping to continue improving after rising two spots in the final MCC event last season from their 2008 finish.

Audrey Thill

Thill is an All Pakota Lake Conference pick as well as earning 1A-2A First Team All State honors.  The daughter of Curtis Thill and Yolanda Yoder, Audrey also competes in track, is a member of the marching/ concert bands, is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and is part of the National Honor Society.  Thill intends on majoring in Chemistry at Goshen.

“Audrey brings great talent and even more potential to our program,” Yoder said.  “She will be a great addition and I anticipate her being in our top five helping to develop a strong team pack.  She comes highly recommended by her high school coach and I am excited to have Audrey be a part of what could be a very strong recruiting class.”

Allison Beitler

A two-year team captain at South Adams, Beitler also competed in track and swimming.  She was named an IHSAA Student-Athlete Role Model this last year and has been a part of the National Honor Society as well as the South Adams Substance Abuse Awareness Council.  The daughter of Ted and Gretta Beitler, Allison plans on majoring in Nursing upon her arrival at Goshen College.

“Allison brings a lot of talent and potential to our program,” Yoder explained.  “She has a strong work ethic and is an outstanding student.  She will provide another strong link in our development of a 5-7 person pack of front runners.  She also has great state tournament series experience in track that will be helpful in both track and cross country at GC.”

Yoder expects several other signings as we move later into the spring.  Check back at this website for the latest news and recruiting information.

Box Score

GOSHEN, Ind. – A packed house at the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center witnessed small college basketball at its best Saturday afternoon.  Unfortunately for the home Maple Leafs, it resulted in their fourth-straight loss as NAIA DII #9 Bethel College outlasted Goshen College 73-71 in Mid-Central College Conference action.

“It was a hard-fought basketball game,” said Goshen head coach Gary Chupp, whose Maple Leafs move to 13-11 overall and 4-6 in the MCC with the defeat.

Joey Welch got things going for Bethel early as he hit the first two shots of the game, leading the Pilots to an early 4-0 lead.  In front of their home crowd -- which seems to grow each game -- the Leafs came flying back.  A 12-0 run sparked by four points each from senior Errick McCollum II and junior Simon Szablicki gave Goshen a 12-4 advantage at the 12:09 mark of the first half.

Both offenses struggled early as both team’s high-pressure defenses were disrupting any sustained rhythm.  Midway through the first half, the two sides had combined for just 20 points on 8-of-26 shooting.

The Maple Leafs managed to hold onto the lead until Ryne Lightfoot hit a 3-pointer with 5:38 left in the half to tie the score at 21-21.  Less than a minute later, freshman Casey Pratt put Goshen back on top with one of a growing list of clutch long balls in his first collegiate season.

Lightfoot answered minutes later as the score was once again even at 26-26.  After a Daniel Butler II basket, the Pilots got another 3-pointer, this time off the hands of Tony Benford, taking their first lead since the opening minutes.

A Szablicki jumper to make it 32-31 in the Leafs favor looked like it would be enough to give Goshen a lead at the break.  Inbounding the ball under their own basket with four seconds left in the period, Bethel had other ideas.  The Pilots found Lightfoot who fired up a 30-footer at the buzzer, which found the bottom of the net and gave Bethel a 34-32 halftime lead.

“I was disappointed to be down two at the half,” Chupp explained.  “I thought we played a lot better than that and to be down was really frustrated, especially because of the way it happened.”

The Pilots out shot the Leafs 44% to 36% in the half, but Goshen forced 10 Bethel turnovers and grabbed eight offensive rebounds in the period.

Just like the first half, the Pilots came out trying to assert themselves through Joey Welch.  Welch started with a basket-and-one as Bethel built a five-point advantage.  Three-consecutive baskets by three different players, though, gave Goshen the lead at 38-37.

That is when the Pilots made their move.  Bethel went on a 13-2 run, which included a pair of 3-point plays highlighting the biggest struggle for Goshen all afternoon: foul trouble.  Senior Nate West picked up two fouls early in the first half forcing him to the bench after less than three minutes of play and junior Daniel Butler II picked up two fouls during the Pilots run before eventually fouling out midway through the second half.

“The foul trouble really hurt us as we were forced to be running on fumes at the end,” added Chupp.  “It put us in some pretty serious mismatches and were forced to be really small.  Our guys stepped up, though, and defended well in the post, mixed it up, and were physical on the glass even though some of them are not used to being in that position.”

Bethel was able to stretch its lead to as many as 14 after Lightfoot hit four-straight from the free throw line.  Sophomore Nate Manning immediately cut the deficit to 11 with a 3-pointer, but Goshen really did not make their move until the five-minute mark.

Still down 11 points (55-66) and despite having four fouls, West began to take the game over.  He hit on two straight possessions as he drove the lane and cut the Bethel lead to 59-66 with 4:30 remaining.

After a pair of McCollum free throws trimmed the deficit to five, West again converted in the lane and the Pilot lead was down to 63-66 with 3:16 left on the game clock.  Wes Laidig ended a two-plus minute scoreless run for Bethel with a jumper as the lead increased to five again.  Then, it was another clutch 3-pointer by Pratt as Goshen moved within two (66-68) with 2:32 to play.

In his first game back from a knee injury, Tyler Brown made his return count for Bethel.  The senior forward converted 5-of-6 from the line in the final two minutes, not allowing Goshen a chance to come all the way back.  McCollum did hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but the Leafs still fell short, 73-71.

McCollum led all scorers with 27 points to go with six rebounds and four blocks, while Szablicki, West, and Pratt each finished with nine points.  Wes Laidig led Bethel with 21 points and was just one point short of a double-double with nine rebounds.

The Maple Leafs look to snap their season-long four-game losing streak on Tuesday when they travel to Grace College.  Goshen defeated the Lancers 77-66 at home in early January.

ANGOLA, Ind. – Just five members of the Goshen College track and field team competed in the Trine University Invitational on Friday, yet it still yielded two event wins for the Maple Leafs as a partial squad took to the track for the first time in 2010.

It was a pair of seniors who got the early individual titles for Goshen as David Rumsey (Iowa City, Ia.) and Rachael Baker (Fremont, Ind.) each won in the mile run.

Rumsey, who finished ninth in last year’s NAIA Indoor National Championships, separated himself from the men’s field in a winning time of 4:27.00.  Rumsey was nearly five seconds out in front of second place and 30 seconds in front of the seventh spot.

Baker was just as dominant in the women’s mile run.  She took charge early and finished 13 seconds in front of the next competitor with a winning time of 5:21.74.  Later in the event, Baker came back to take third place in the 800 meters with a time of 2:27.02.

Several other members of the men’s team had solid season-opening performances on Friday.  Freshman Jonathan Koerner (Kalona, Ia.) placed third in the 800 (2:10.11), senior Tyler Keller finished fourth in the 200 (23.96), and sophomore Matt Webster took fourth in the weight throw (48′11″) and eighth in the shot put (39′9 1/4″).

While Baker was the only women’s competitor at the Trine Invitational, another Maple Leaf was in action in New York.  Senior Tina Peters competed at the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden.  She “walked” away with a seventh place finish in the one mile race walk in a new personal best time of 7:30.74 at that distance.

Goshen will compete in its first full team meet next Saturday (February 6) when they head to the Taylor University Invitational in Upland, Ind.

Senior Heather Hahn

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Fans of the slow-it-down, possession based game beware!  Saturday’s women’s basketball game between Goshen College and Bethel College was not your pre-shot clock era type of game.

High-paced offenses were on full display as the Pilots used a strong second half to run past the visiting Maple Leafs 92-83 in Mishawaka.

“Today we were more competitive on the offensive end for 40 minutes than last time when we played them at home,” head coach Steve Wiktorowski commented, having lost 65-92 to Bethel in early December.  “Our competitiveness here the last few games on the road at tough places to play is not reflected in our record and we have to find a way to break through into the win column more in February.”

Things got off to a fantastic start for Goshen as senior Lindsay Gangloff knocked in a 3-pointer just 20 seconds into the game for a 3-0 lead.  Bethel – ranked #2 in the country in 3-pointers – responded immediately, however, with a Bekah Basinger long ball.

After the teams traded baskets again, the Leafs made their move.  Four different players scored as Goshen went on an 11-0 run resulting in a 16-5 lead just over five minutes into the contest.

With one of the most prolific offenses in the country, Bethel was not going away.  They slowly chipped away at the deficit before tying it on a Jordan Robbins 3-pointer with 8:46 left in the half.  Less than a minute later, another Pilots long ball gave them a lead, but Goshen’s Heather Hahn hit from beyond the arc to knot the score again at 27-27.

During the next three minutes, Bethel hit the offense glass getting three of their 11 first-half offensive rebounds during a 5-0 run.  But again Goshen made a run and again it was from beyond the 3-point arc.  Freshman Samantha Hawk and junior Erica Yost both hit 3-pointers as the Leafs regained a small 33-32 advantage with 3:55 left in the half.

Goshen held the lead until Mandy Yoder hit a jumper as the buzzer sounded giving Bethel a 37-35 halftime lead.  The team’s combined to hit 11 3-pointers in the half, but the Leafs hit just 3-of-7 from the free throw line to the Pilots 6-of-11.

“We got off to a good lead early and withstood their strong run late in the half better than we did last time,” Wiktorowski explained.  “”A tough break for us was the loss of Jenna Rusmisel to an injury last night after practice because she could have helped us against their press.  We don’t know when or if she’ll return, but Heather Hahn stepped in and gave us a big lift on the offensive end in her first start this year.  She has been hobbled by injuries all year too, and hopefully she can maintain her health and this level of effort the rest of the year.”

Hahn scored nine of her team-high 20 points in the first half and finished the afternoon 8-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-5 from 3-point territory.

The second half started the same way as the first as Gangloff drilled another 3-pointer and Goshen took the lead once again.  And just like the first half, Basinger responded with her own long ball.

After Hahn hit one of her four 3-pointers seconds later, Bethel caught fire.  The Pilots hit 5-of-7 from the field and 5-of-5 from the line during a 18-5 stretch that lasted just over three minutes and resulted in a 58-46 lead for Bethel.

The Pilots were able to stretch their advantage to 16 just past the halfway point in the half and then extended it to as many as 21 before Goshen started to really cut back into it.

“They jumped out early on us in the second half, but we kept scratching and clawing back,” Wiktorowski added.  “If we had shot free throws and converted some inside shots that we normally make, maybe it would have been different.  But we didn’t and we were not good enough defensively to make up for it.”

The Leafs managed to get the final deficit to single digits as they eventually fell by a 92-83 count.  In addition to Hahn’s breakout afternoon, Goshen got 18 points and 13 rebounds from junior Cassie Greives.  It was Greives 12th double-double of the season, six more than any other player in the conference.  Junior Erica Yost also had 15 points and seven assists for the Leafs.

Bethel’s Basinger exploded for a game-high 30 points, while Heather Seyfred was one of four other Pilots in double digits with 22 points.

“Jessica Harrison, Sam Hawk, Kaylee Hilliker and Rachel Allen all came off the bench today and made major contributions,” Wiktorowski explained.  “We shot the ball well from three, crashed the boards, guarded the arc better than last time, and took pretty good care of the ball.  Free throws was the one glaring difference between the two teams as we fouled too much and didn’t shoot or hit enough.”

The Leafs are back at it when they host Grace College at 7 p.m. Wednesday night.  It will be Goshen’s first home game in two weeks.