MISHAWAKA, Ind. - On Wednesday, the Goshen College women's basketball team fell to Bethel University 57-55 at Gates Gymnasium. This marked the first game of the season where Goshen was outrebounded by their opponent.

The first quarter between the two teams ended in a 14-14 tie. GC scored ten points on layups, while the Pilots scored nine points off Goshen's seven turnovers. The Leafs had a long scoring drought to start the second quarter. It was still 14-14 until Bethel scored with just under five minutes to go in the quarter, and Goshen did so with 3:53 to go when Kiana Oelling hit two free throws. Bethel had five steals and Goshen had four in the quarter. Goshen shot 3-13 in the ten minutes, and the Leafs were down three at the half.

In the third quarter, GC outscored the Pilots 17-12, taking a narrow lead. Lillian Null contributed significantly with three threes and the Leafs capitalized on Bethel's eight turnovers. Goshen had four steals for a second straight quarter. In the fourth, the Maple Leafs struggled with shooting, going 3-12 from the field and missing all three of their three-point attempts. Ava Lickliter went 8-11 from the line, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Pilots. The game continued the trend of closely contested matchups, with the winner of the last four Goshen-Bethel games being decided by no more than four points.

Lillian Null played a vital role for the Maple Leafs, leading the team with 14 points. She was 3-7 from beyond the arc and contributed defensively with three steals. All of her threes came in the third quarter when she was a perfect 3-3. Lickliter had 12 points, eight of them at the line, and two steals. Zion Neat had seven points and two blocks and Syanne Mohamed contributed ten points with five rebounds and two steals.

Goshen (3-3, 0-1 CL) hosts Saint Francis on Saturday, November 23, at 1:00 pm for the team's Women's Empowerment Game. Saint Francis is ranked #18 in the NAIA, but the Leafs beat USF on the road last year by 11 points.