GOSHEN, Ind. - The No. 25-ranked Lawrence Technological University (LTU) women's basketball team defeated No. 24 Goshen (Ind.) College 74-73 as Hali Butler (SR/Fairport Harbor, OH) hit the game-winner with 10 seconds left in the game. The win moves Lawrence Tech to 8-1 on the season, including a perfect 4-0 record on the road.
Lawrence Tech led the game 72-66 with 2:51 left in the game, but Goshen cut the lead to one at 72-71 after a mini 5-0 run with 1:40 on the clock. The Maple Leafs took the lead at 73-72 with 38 seconds left, but Butler would not be denied as she hit a jumper with 10 seconds remaining to give LTU a 74-73 lead. The Blue Devils were able to secure the 74-73 win as strong defense led to a Goshen missed field goal as time expired.
"Defense is what we have stressed all year and that's why we are where we are," LTU Head Coach Mary Pinkowski said. "I told the ladies that I had to get my emotions together after the game because it was one of the hardest fought games I've seen these ladies fight and their heart and will won that game. They wanted it, we wanted it, and what we stressed all week about defense and keeping them off the boards, they followed through with it and earned the win."
Lawrence Tech trailed 5-2 early in the game, but a 14-2 run by the Blue Devils gave them a 16-7 lead with 5:06 left in the first quarter. LTU built an 11 point lead enroute to a 29-20 lead after 10 minutes of play.
Goshen (11-2) made a run to open the second quarter and cut the lead to one, 29-28, but Lawrence Tech reestablished its offensive play and took a 37-30 lead following a Butler field goal with 4:28 left in the half. LTU maintained its seven point lead heading into half, 45-38.
The Maple Leafs came out on fire in the third quarter as they opened with a 12-1 run to take a 50-46 lead with 3:51 on the clock. Goshen held a slim three point lead at the end of the quarter, 57-54.
LTU responded in the fourth, making 4-of-5 field goals to open the quarter as they retook the lead, 64-59 with 7:10 left in the game. The Blue Devils forced five turnovers in the opening five minutes of the fourth, which led to five points and an LTU lead.
Lawrence Tech shot 50.9 percent from the field as they won their eighth game of the season and first as a top 25 program, 74-73.
"These ladies have started since day one to mold and build this program to be where it is," Pinkowski explained. "They believe in what we are doing and where we are going and we as a whole believe in LTU and want to be trailblazers for all sports teams, especially the women. We know we could not be where we are without the support of our administration. They believe in our staff as much as we believe in each of them."
Four players finished in double-figures, including Butler who finished with 18 points and six rebounds. Allison Kitchen (JR/Clio, MI) (JR/Clio, MI), Nicole Buckingham (FR/Saginaw, Mich.) (FR/Saginaw, Mich.), and Christina Henry (JR/Lansing, Mich.) (JR/Lansing, Mich.) each finished with 13 points. Jazmine Brown (SR/Chesterfield, MI) (SR/Chesterfield, MI) added seven points and four rebounds.
Lawrence Tech is back on the court Tuesday, December 22 when they travel to Olivet, Mich., to face Olivet (Mich.) College at 1 p.m.
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