By Chandler Ingle
Sports Information Intern

GOSHEN, Ind. — The shooting woes continued for the Goshen College women's basketball team as they fell in a low scoring 44-39 affair to Aquinas College Tuesday evening at Gunden Gymnasium.

Neither team was able to find its stride throughout the offensive struggle as each side finished the night with 14 field goals made. Goshen (0-2) finished just above the Mendoza line, as the Leafs tallied 21.9 percent (14-for-64) from the floor compared to Aquinas' 25.9 percent (14-for-54) mark.

The disparity in the final score came by way of the charity stripe in favor of the visitors as the Saints converted on 70 percent of their tries, going 14-for-20 to move to 2-0. Goshen kept pace throughout the defensive struggle with six triples, compared to two from the Saints.

"These kids and coaches are all competitors, so nobody feels good about a loss," Goshen coach Stephanie Miller said. "Basketball has so many things you have to experience to understand and so many things to absorb from game experience that make you a smart player. We may be learning on the fly, but this group is coachable, hard-working, and determined to play for one another. That means I like our chances of getting better game by game."

Goshen jumped out to a 5-0 lead to begin the early-week matchup but relinquished that lead with 3:15 left in the opening period. The Maple Leafs scored just nine total points after opening spurt: Aquinas scored 18 after tying the game and led 22-14 at the half.

Goshen charged back into the picture by holding the Saints without a field goal for seven minutes of the third quarter: the Maple Leafs went on a 9-3 run to trim the lead to three at the two-minute mark of the third frame. Aquinas scored first in the final period before going cold, as another five-minute defensive hold let Goshen back within 35-34 with 5:42 left in regulation.

Seven straight possessions passed without a Goshen score, though, and the fouling game ensued in a quest for time. Aquinas made its last five foul shots in the final minute.

Goshen senior Carley O'Neal lead the charge for the Leafs with a game-high 13 points, but she at least doubled the output of all of her teammates. Goshen center Keyaira Murff stuffed a game-high six shots on defense while matching Aquinas' Hannah Brefeld to lead all players with 10 rebounds. Murff's double-digit carom total was her second in as many tries in her freshman campaign.

"Carley had a strong night leading us and controlling some tough Aquinas ball pressure," Miller said. "Murff did a nice job defensively and blocked a ton of shots. We also got strong minutes from Haley Archibeque, who is just in her first week back after an injury held her out. She's not where she wants to be and may be impatient, but her experience and floor leadership was key in keeping us in the game."

No Saint scorer reached double digits on the evening, allowing Bri Spica and Ally Frederickson to pace Aquinas with eight points apiece. Goshen's Donnae Lipinski and Aquinas' Carley Andrews paced all players with three assists each. O'Neal and Spica were the only players to sink multiple three-pointers.

"We certainly gave a very deep and talented Aquinas squad more than they bargained for," Miller said. "Give them credit, they finished down the stretch when they needed to. I give my team tons of credit too, however, because while we struggled to score, our scrappy and hard-working defense held us right in the game all the way until the final minute."

The Maple Leafs will look to crack the win column for the first time this season over the weekend as they travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to play Cardinal Stritch University in the Cardinal Stritch Classic. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday before a meeting with Judson University at 3 p.m. Saturday.