By Andrew Snyder
Sports Information Intern

GOSHEN, Ind. — Lynnia Noel was one of four seniors to score in double digits, including a season-high 14 points in the final quarter, as the Goshen College women's basketball team prevailed 69-64 over the Indiana University Kokomo Cougars on Monday evening.

Both teams struggled from the field in the opening stanza, combining to go 8-of-34 and score only 17 points. Sophia Sears led the Maple Leafs (7-6, 2-2), who shot 5-of-19, with six points as the hosts took a 10-7 lead into the break. Goshen High School graduate Deja Felder paced the Cougars (9-5), who went 3-of-15, with three points.

The second quarter didn't bode any better for the two squads, splitting 10 converted field goals in a combined 29 attempts. Goshen had two 3-pointers to IU Kokomo's one, leading to the Maple Leafs taking a 25-21 advantage into halftime. Sears and Felder both had seven points for their respective teams to lead all scorers at the half.

Switching ends must have made something right, as both teams were able to find a better shooting groove and make the third the highest-scoring quarter of the game. Cougar Dejianna Butler was the high scorer, recording 12 points as her team took a 46-44 lead into the final stanza. Gabby Williams went a perfect 5-of-5 for 10 points, more than twice her first-half output, to lead Goshen.

The Cougars carried their slight edge in momentum for much of the fourth quarter, taking their game-high six point lead 58-52 with 3:59 to play. Luckily for the Maple Leafs, Noel sparked to life after being held to three points for the first 30 minutes: she scored Goshen's first 11 points of the fourth to keep Goshen within striking distance.

Williams joined in the fourth quarter fun too, knocking down a pair of buckets before Calla Bartlett tied the game at 62-62 with just 1:17 left. The Maple Leafs finished the rest of the way going 7-of-10 from the free throw line while the Cougars could only muster two points via a Butler basket, as Goshen scored the final seven points in a 69-64 win.

The Maple Leafs finished shooting 23-of-57 (40 percent) on the evening while winning the rebounding battle. 42-30. IU Kokomo was 22-of-58 (38 percent) from the field, including a 5-of-23 mark from deep.

Williams finished with 19 points and nine rebounds for the Maple Leafs, followed closely by Noel's 17 points, Sears' 12 points, and Bartlett's 11 points. Butler finished with 22 points for IU Kokomo to lead all scorers.

Goshen has 18 hours before returning to the hardwood for another home contest as it takes on Trinity International University at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Radio coverage begins at 12:45 on Goshen College's award-winning radio station, 91.1 the Globe.