YORK, Pa. — In its final game prior to heading out west for the Las Vegas Hoopla Tournament on Dec. 20, Goucher failed to hold a lead tonight against York, falling in non-conference play, 72-65.

Goucher got off to a slow start as Joyce Woolen and Amaka Ezeani scored all eight of the team's points. The Gophers were staring at a six-point deficit after the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, York jumped out to a 22-14 lead with 6:55 remaining as Morgan Kuehne pushed a layup into the basket. From there, the Spartans' lead dwindled. Jaida Scarborough and Ecstacie Ryles each sunk a jumper within a forty-second timespan to cut the home team's lead to one with 1:01 left on the clock.

The Gophers (4-4) trailed, 30-27, heading into the locker room at the half.

Early in the third quarter, York went on a 5-0 run to extend its lead to eight but, once again, Goucher reeled the green and white back in. Two possessions later, the Gophers trailed 38-37 after mid-range jumpers from India Perkins and Kristi Kozlowski found the basket. Though, the Spartans (7-0) pulled away at the 3-minute mark, and took the 50-43 lead into the fourth quarter.

Briana Bull and Ezeani accounted for 17 of Goucher's final 22 points in the final quarter of regulation. Unfortunately, York matched that and went on a 6-2 run in the final 39 seconds of the game.

"Really proud of our effort but unfortunately, we did not do enough of the little things," head coach Patrick Daniel said after the game. "We have to convert our free throws, make layups, and play better defense for the entire game."

"We got better tonight and we will continue to improve because we know losing cannot be acceptable moving forward."

Goucher returns to the Decker Sports & Recreation Center on Jan. 2 as it hosts Immaculata. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.