Women's Basketball 12/12/2015 12:00:00 AM

Late game heroics lifts Women's Basketball over IU East in overtime

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Sophomore Autumn Goggin buried a three-pointer with 25 seconds left in overtime to lift the Spring Arbor University women's basketball team to a 62-60 win over Indiana University East on Saturday.

The win brings the Cougars back to the .500 mark at 6-6 overall while the Red Wolves dropped to 5-4.

Spring Arbor trailed throughout the first quarter, but a late 6-0 run gave the home team a 17-16 lead heading into the second period.

In the second quarter, SAU picked up right where it left off hitting four of its first five shots – three coming from Goggin – to expand the lead to 26-18. The Cougars would maintain their lead the rest of the period and take a 40-33 advantage into halftime.

Spring Arbor dominated the glass in the first half, outrebounding Indiana East 30-15. The Cougars grabbed 12 offensive boards leading to 17 second chance points.

IU East flipped the script over the final two quarters, though, hauling in 16 more rebounds than SAU. Despite being limited to just 28 percent shooting by a relentless Cougar defense, the Red Wolves capitalized on the extra opportunities.

Indiana East trailed by as many 12 with 6:47 to play in the third quarter, but rallied back to get within four, 51-47, heading to the fourth period. The Red Wolves held the Cougars to just seven points in the fourth quarter, including just one point over the final 6:34, to tie the score at 58-58 and force overtime.

Spring Arbor's offense struggles continued in the extra period, hitting just one field goal. However, it was the biggest one of the game as Goggin knocked down the go-ahead three-pointer with 25 seconds left. On the ensuing IU East possession, Driesenga came away with a big steal setting up a Karly Bender free throw to put the Cougars ahead by two. The Red Wolves would have one last chance to tie the game, but the SAU defense came up with a huge defensive stand to clinch the win.

Goggin finished with a season-high 16 points while Driesenga and Kylie Townsley each posted a double-double. Driesenga recorded 11 points and 14 rebounds – one off her career-high – and Townsley had 11 points and 12 boards. Sophomore Faith Johnson notched six points and six rebounds.

"This game was big for us to pull out," said head coach Ryan Frost. "We had great minutes off the bench from Faith and Autumn. Hopefully this is a game we build off of."

Spring Arbor (6-6) will return to action when it hosts Rochester College (7-6) on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m.

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