GOSHEN, Ind. – It was a good day for the Maple Leafs women's basketball team on Thursday evening in Goshen. With a 65-60 win over Holy Cross College, the Leafs head into the new year with two straight victories and rise back up to a .500 win percentage. Taniece Chapman had a double-double and now has the third-most rebounds in program history. Three other players scored in double-digits, and Goshen held a team that had averaged nearly 50 rebounds per game to just 33 this afternoon.
 
Kiarah Copeland started the game with a three-pointer, and Goshen held that lead for most of the first two quarters. At one point, the Leafs led by seven, but Holy Cross College had their first lead with 2:20 to go in the second quarter. The Saints held the Maple Leafs to just six points in the second quarter, and the visitors led 25-22 at halftime.
 
In the third, Holy Cross built an eight-point lead, but Goshen answered with a 12-4 run to tie the game 36-36. Goshen matched their first-half scoring total from the first two quarters in the third quarter alone, outscoring Holy Cross 22-20 in that period.
 
Holy Cross took the lead back after Goshen had tied it. But with 8:15 left in the game, GC took a 48-47 lead and didn't look back. The Saints were within three in the final minute, but they missed a three-pointer with 14 seconds left, and Goshen held on 65-60.
 
Taniece Chapman had a second-straight double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds – tying her season-best rebound total. Chapman also recorded a season-high six assists. Her seventh rebound moved her into third place for the career rebound record in program history. She surpassed 2016 graduate Jo'Mani Thomas, who had 806 rebounds.
 
Sa'drea Rougeau also had 13 points in 19 minutes off the bench. Kiarah Copeland had 11 points and five rebounds and Syanne Mohamed had ten points and seven boards. Sophia Eli recorded a career-high seven points in 14 minutes off the bench. "Eli was our player of the game tonight and injected a toughness and energy that we needed to get back on track," head coach Stephanie Miller shared. "She was just a real spark plug today."
 
Holy Cross (8-8) came into the game ranked second in the NAIA in rebounds per game, averaging 49.6. However, Goshen crushed the rebounding category tonight, winning it 49-33. Holy Cross was third in offensive rebounds per game with 19.9, but Goshen held them to just five this evening. "We thought we could really beat them at their own game and focused on winning that stat since I felt that they needed it to win," said Miller.
 
The Saints were 6-2 in December leading up to this game. Goshen is now 5-3 in their last eight games, with all three losses from ranked opponents.
 
This was the final nonconference game for the Maple Leafs (8-8, 2-2 CL). They have two competitive Crossroads League matchups coming up on the road. On Wednesday, January 5, they will play at #7 Marian at 7:00 pm. Then on Saturday, January 8, they travel to #24 Mount Vernon Nazarene for a 1:00 pm start time. "We have had a truly challenging nonconference schedule that I believe has prepped us for what we are about to face next week," Miller said. "I'm excited to test ourselves right away and see what we can do. We're ready for this challenge."
 
The next home game will be Wednesday, January 12, at 6:00 pm against Grace.
 
Happy New Year!