SPRING ARBOR, MI - Unfortunately for Head Coach Tara Kreklau, an "A" for effort did not translate into a win for Spring Arbor University's women's basketball team against a highly skilled Bethel College team. The Cougars lost to the Pilots 57-46 in a hard fought game on Saturday afternoon in the fieldhouse of Spring Arbor University.
"I'm very pleased with how hard my girls played today," said Kreklau. "It comes down to shooting and turnovers and that's where we've struggled lately.
Spring Arbor held their own for most of the game despite spotting Bethel a 13-3 lead in the first 5 minutes of the game. But an Audra Norris 3-Pointer with 14 seconds left in the first half cut the Pilots lead to 6 points. The score at the break was Bethel 29, Spring Arbor 23.
In the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second half, Spring Arbor played inspired basketball as the Cougars tore off a 16-3 run to take a five point lead 37-32 and looked like it might be able to stop a nine game losing streak.
Six different Cougars scored during the run which was the way the entire game played out for Spring Arbor. For the second time this season, the Cougars failed to have a player score in double digits. Melissa Tejkl led Spring Arbor with nine points, Kate Bement and Alex Glenn scored seven points each, and both Megan Bement and Heather Carlson chipped in six points.
The loss was the 10th in a row for Spring Arbor whose record dropped to 8-19 overall and 2-11 in the Mid-Central College Conference. Bethel's record improved to 16-11 and 7-6 in the MCC.
Spring Arbor will head to Marion, IN on Wednesday, February 9th to take on MCC leading Indiana Wesleyan University at 7:00.
