FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Four players finished in double figure scoring for Spring Arbor University, but it would not be enough as the Cougars dropped their Crossroads League opener 78-72 at the University of Saint Francis on Tuesday night.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor 72, Saint Francis 78
LOCATION: Hutzell Athletic Center | Fort Wayne, Ind.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 5-3 (0-1 CL), Saint Francis 3-5 (1-0 CL)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Kylie Townsley and Rachel Driesenga combined to score the first 13 points for Spring Arbor, helping propel the Cougars to an early 13-10 lead. Following a pair of free throws from Kaitlyn Shields and a three-pointer from Aimee Konkel, SAU earned its largest lead, 18-11, at the 3:19 mark in the opening period.
- Spring Arbor continued to lead throughout most of the second quarter. However, trailing 30-26 with less than five minutes to play in the frame, Saint Francis would score six straight points to close out the period to grab a 32-30 advantage at the break.
- The home team started the third quarter on a 10-3 run to expand its lead to nine, 42-33, at the 8:17 mark. Saint Francis would go on to outscore SAU 25-18 in the period and take a 57-48 lead into the final quarter.
- Saint Francis maintained its cushion throughout the fourth quarter, and managed to push its lead to 10 with 3:26 to play. Rachel Nelson would help fuel a furious rally by the Cougars, though, hitting a pair of three's to trim the double-digit deficit to just two, 72-70, with 44 seconds left on the clock. Saint Francis would hold off the late charge, however, and clinch the win with six free throws down the stretch.
- Townsley posted a team-high 19 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, while Autumn Goggin finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Driesenga recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 boards. Nelson added 11 points and four rebounds.
- Saint Francis shot 44 percent (27-for-61) from the field while Spring Arbor finished at 40 percent (26-for-65). The home Cougars also held a slight edge in rebounding, hauling in 40 compared to SAU's 39, but the biggest difference came on points in the paint where USF outscored the Cougars 32-18.
FOR SAINT FRANCIS
- Saint Francis also saw four players reach double figures in scoring. Leading the way was Savannah Davis with 19 points.
- Kara Gerka followed with 18 points and 10 rebounds to register a double-double.
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor returns home to host back-to-back games against Taylor University (4-3, 1-0 CL) and No. 1 ranked Marian University (7-1, 1-0 CL). The Cougars will welcome the Trojans on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. before taking on the defending national champion Knights on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m.
Women's Basketball Contact: Chris Bauman | 517-750-6504 | christopher.bauman@arbor.edu
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