SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Despite season-high scoring efforts from freshmen Autumn Goggin and Faith Johnson, the Spring Arbor University women's basketball team fell to Goshen College 100-98 in double overtime over on Saturday.
The Cougars had a shot at the potential game-winning basket in the closing seconds of the second overtime period, but sophomore Kylie Townsley's attempt came up empty. With the clock winding down, Goshen raced down the floor and hit a pull-up jumper with just over a second remaining to escape with the victory.
Goggin finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc, while Johnson added 18, hitting a season-best four three-pointers.
Goshen (15-7, 6-4 Crossroads League), who entered the contest receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Poll, built a 23-15 lead with 6:46 left in the first half. Johnson, however, scored 11 of her 16 first half points over the final four minutes as part of a 25-12 run to give the Cougars a 40-35 advantage at halftime.
After holding the lead for much of the second half, Spring Arbor found itself down by two following a late 8-0 Maple Leaf run. Goggin answered, though, drilling a three from the corner at the 1:02 mark and junior Jessica Mabry would add a free throw to put the Cougars on top 81-79 with 27 seconds remaining in regulation. However, GC's Keshia Ward hit a jumper in the paint just before time expired to send the game to overtime.
In the first extra period, after Goshen answered a three-pointer from sophomore Aimee Konkel to tie the score, Johnson hit a huge jumper to put SAU back in front with 34 ticks left on the clock. The Leafs refused to go away quietly, though, as Jo'Mani Thomas scored on the other end to force a second overtime.
Midway through the second OT, senior LeAnn Porter converted a pair of free throws to extend the Cougar lead to three, 97-94. However, GC's Thomas posted back-to-back buckets to give the visitors a one point advantage. Goggin would knock down a free throw with less than a minute to play to even the score, but Goshen responded one more time. Thomas would, once again, hit a shot just before the horn – this time giving her team the win.
Spring Arbor's 98 points were the most scored in a single game since the 2005-06 season when the Cougars defeated the University of Michigan-Dearborn 99-70.
The Cougars forced Goshen into 34 turnovers – the most takeaways this season for SAU. However, the Maple Leafs held a substantial edge on the glass, out-rebounding Spring Arbor 73-36.
Townsley finished with 18 points and six steals while Mabry and Konkel chipped in 12 points apiece. Mabry also dished out a team-high nine assists. Senior Lindsey Burnside recorded six points, seven rebounds, four blocks and one steal.
Spring Arbor (6-15, 1-9 Crossroads League) will travel to No. 20 Huntington University (14-6, 5-5 Crossroads League) on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The game is set to tip at 7 p.m.
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