McKendree's Liz Gilman sank a 3-point field goal at the first overtime buzzer to lead the Bearcats to a 77-74 win over the Hillsdale College women's basketball team Friday night in Springfield, Ill. It was the first game in a GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament weekend, being hosted by the University of Illinois-Springfield.
Hillsdale is now 0-3 on the season and will take on the host Prarie Stars Saturday afternoon.
The loss spoiled a game for the ages by Charger junior forward Megan Fogt. She set career-highs with 29 points and 27 rebounds in the game. Her 27 boards are the second-most in a game in school history, only one off the record of 28 held by former All-American Katie Cezat and set back on Feb. 14, 2009.
After leading much of the second half, the Chargers were victim of a 6-0 run that saw them trail 70-67 on the final possession of regulation. Senior guard Marissa DeMott nailed a clutch 3-point shot that forced overtime. Fogt then put Hillsdale ahead early in overtime with a pair of free throws. An Ashlyn Landherr free throw gave Hillsdale a 74-72 lead with 1:55 to go, but the Chargers wouldn't score again, as McKendree finished the game on a 5-0 run.
The team statistics in this game were as close as you'd expect, with both teams making 25 field goals and shooting less than 1 percent apart from the field. However, Hillsdale struggled from the free throw line, going 17-for-31 compared to 16-for-20 for the Bearcats, and McKendree had a 12-point advantage on made 3-point baskets (11-7).
Junior Brooke Borowski scored 14 points while DeMott had 12 for the Chargers. Fogt also had three blocked shots and two steals in the game and shot 11-for-17 from the field.