GOSHEN, Ind. – The Spring Arbor University women's basketball team fell at Goshen College 69-57 in its Crossroads League opener on Tuesday night inside Gunden Gymnasium.
The teams were deadlocked at halftime, 24-24, but a second half surge that saw the Maple Leafs score 45 points, including a 16-0 run, would be enough to halt SAU's two-game winning streak.
Fresh off a career-best 20-point performance against Indiana University-East, junior Jessica Mabry poured in 18 more points to lead Spring Arbor. Sophomore Kylie Townsley followed with 10 points, five rebounds and four steals.
The Cougars forced Goshen (6-3, 1-0 Crossroads League) into 15 first half turnovers, but were unable to capitalize on the other end, generating just seven points off the GC miscues. The teams traded the lead four different times throughout the period, but a pair of late free throws by senior LeAnn Porter tied the score heading into the locker room.
In the second half, the teams continued to trade buckets early, battling to 38-38 at the 11:52 mark. However, back-to-back three-pointers from the Maple Leafs kick started a 16-0 run over the next four minutes to give Goshen a commanding 54-38 advantage.
The Cougars slowly chipped away and a field goal by Mabry trimmed the deficit to seven, 62-55, with 1:14 remaining, but the Leafs would cash in at the charity stripe in the closing seconds to clinch the victory.
Goshen shot 40 percent (23-for-57) for the game while the Cougars finished at 39 percent (22-for-57). The difference came on the glass where the home team grabbed 49 rebounds compared to SAU's 28.
Porter finished the night with seven points and five rebounds while sophomores Aimee Konkel and Rachel Driesenga added six points apiece.
Spring Arbor (3-5, 0-1 Crossroads League) returns to action when it hosts No. 19 Huntington University (6-2, 0-1 Crossroads League) on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
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