WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Forester women’s basketball team picked up their second straight conference win by topping Goshen 67-63 Saturday afternoon at Ruth Gunden Gymnasium. Today’s W marks HU’s first league win on the road, a coveted feat in the Crossroads League, while it also serves as their fourth straight victory over the Maple Leafs.

With this afternoon’s win, which wraps up first round action of league play, plus Wednseday’s win over Taylor, Huntington improves to 11-8 overall, 4-5 in CL action. HU is currently tied for fifth with Mount Vernon in the regular season standings.

Huntington got off to a fast start to lurch in front 19-8, taking a 21-14 lead into the second quarter where the Maple Leafs (9-9, 3-6) fought back to climb on top by one at 37-36 heading into the locker room. The teeter tottering came to an end compliments of an 8-0 HU run to start the third that included Addie Shank nailing her first collegiate three followed by a layup in transition for a 44-37 advantage within the first two minutes of the second half.

The lead was 12 by the end of the quarter with the largest lead of the day coming with just under eight minutes to go on another Shank layup for a 60-46 disparity. It was still a ten-point spread with two minutes to go but Goshen worked some magic to trim it to two at 65-63 with six ticks to go. Forced to foul, GC hacked Liv Raby who calmly sank both free tosses to secure the four-point win.

Gabi Melby came up big with a game-best 23 points and five assists. Just as important, she was tasked with hounding Zion Neat in the second half who, after unloading for 20 first half points, was limited to just two points under Melby’s watch.

Raby tossed in 15 points to go along with five assists and three blocks. Shank, in her first start, turned in a double double of 14 points and 12 rebounds, both of which are new career highs. Rounding out HU’s double digit scoring was Bailey Kelham who netted ten points and dished our four dimes. Annaka Nelson left a mark in just about every statistical category having posted two points, seven rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist.

Neat notched her 1,000th career point with her first bucket on the way to finishing with 22 points and 11 boards for Goshen. Syanne Mohamed, who tallied her 1,000th career point on Wednesday, added 11 points. Ava Lickliter also scored 11 points with six of those coming in the final 90 seconds during Goshen’s late-game surge.

Huntington is off for a week before heading to #2 Indiana Wesleyan next Saturday in hopes of avenging their 81-79 loss to the Wildcats in November.