KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Maple Leafs women's basketball team had a great experience facing off against a Division-I opponent on Halloween. Goshen led Western Michigan through the first quarter, but the Broncos won by a score of 77-53.
 
The exhibition match does not count on Goshen's schedule, but it does get them the experience and challenge of playing at a higher-level school. In head coach Stephanie Miller's tenure, Goshen has typically scheduled one Division-I opponent each season. The team has played Purdue Fort Wayne five times (formerly IPFW), IUPUI once, and now twice against Western Michigan. The Broncos compete in the Mid-American Conference and were 6-15 a season ago. They play their games in University Arena - which seats over 5,000.
 
Goshen attacked early on – leading 15-14 after the first quarter. The Maple Leafs led the Broncos for nearly a quarter of the entire match and led by as many as four points. Goshen held Western Michigan to a 29% shooting percentage in the first quarter and just 1-7 from behind the arc. The Leafs brought the game back to single digits in the third quarter, and Miller could tell "that the ladies were very locked in." She said winning the first quarter also did a lot for the team's confidence.
 
Goshen's overall shooting percentage for the game was 2% higher than Western Michigan and their three-point percentage was 21% higher. The Leafs outrebounded the Broncos 49-44. A major reason the home team was able to win was by forcing 30 Goshen turnovers. Western Michigan scored 29 points off of turnovers and had 17 steals.
 
Miller says this was one of the best D-I exhibition experiences the Maple Leafs have had. "This group handled the opportunity with a great attitude. They were up for the challenge, showed some mental and physical toughness, and because of our focus and competitiveness, we really got better today."
 
Sa'drea Rougeau and Taniece Chapman led the scoring for Goshen with 13 and 12 points respectively. Rougeau had nine rebounds and shot 60% for the day. Syanne Mohamed had eight rebounds and three assists.
 
"A great approach to the game today and I am pleased with our young women," Miller remarked.
 
Western Michigan has notable non-conference games at Purdue, USC, and Indiana. Goshen's next match is at home on Tuesday, November 2^nd. The Leafs host Indiana University Northwest at 7:00 pm.