First Half Turnovers Cost Women’s Basketball at Goshen

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GOSHEN, Ind. — The host Goshen College Maple Leafs moved to 3-1 on the season Tuesday (Nov. 11) by defeating Marygrove women’s basketball, 85-52, behind relentless full-court defense. The Mustangs couldn’t adjust to the Leafs’ pressure, coughing up possession 17 times in the first half to drop to 0-3 on the season in the 33-point defeat.

A back-and-forth start over the game’s opening five minutes had the Mustangs within striking distance, trailing 8-6 after freshman center Diamond Jones (Detroit, Mich./Allen Academy) scored two of her eight points on the night. A number of Mustang turnovers allowed the Leafs to put together a 30-7 run over the next 10 minutes to take a 38-13 lead late in the opening stanza.

The teams exchanged buckets from there, sending the Leafs to a 25-point lead over the Mustangs at the half, 45-20. The Leafs shot out to the 25-point halftime lead thanks to a 26-3 advantage in points generated off of turnovers.

The 25-point deficit at the break proved to be too much to overcome as the Mustangs dropped the non-conference contest by the 85-52 final. The Mustangs fought hard in the latter half, only committing eight turnovers compared to 12 for the Leafs. In all, 25 turnovers and a -19 rebounding margin led to the setback as second-year head coach Craig Covington and the Mustangs return to Detroit game plan for Thursday’s (Nov. 13) contest at Kuyper.

Senior wing Janeesa Jamierson (Battle Creek, Mich./Kellogg CC) led the Mustangs with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor. Jamierson grabbed six rebounds and added an assist, while fellow senior Raeha Weaver (Battle Creek, Mich./Kellogg CC) chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Jones finished with eight points and a rebound, followed by Elisha Major (Flushing, Mich./Flushing High School) with seven points and a pair of rebounds.

Four Leafs reached double figures scoring, led by Liz Tecca with a game-high 17 points.

The road tilt at Kuyper is the second of four total games for the Mustangs this week. The 2014-15 home and conference opener lies ahead Saturday (Nov. 15) at 1 p.m. against No. 16 Siena Heights before the Mustangs turn around less than 24 hours later to face NCAA Division I Detroit Sunday (Nov. 16) at 12 p.m.

Sunday’s game at Detroit is the first of two exhibitions for Covington and the Mustangs this season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CONTACT: Tim Johnston | tjohnston@marygrove.edu | @tjohnston56
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