Leave it to a newly returned-to-health senior to help snap a two-game losing streak.
Senior Kelsey Cromer poured in a career-high 23 points to help lead the Hillsdale College women's basketball team to an 88-75 win over visiting Ferris State University Thursday night at Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.
The win pushes Hillsdale back over the .500 mark for the season, 9-8 overall and 6-7 in the GLIAC.
Cromer missed nine games earlier this season with various ailments. Her strength, outside shooting and experience were missed by the team during that stretch. But Thursday night, she broke out in a big way, lifting the Chargers in all aspects of the game.
She connected on 7-of-13 shots overall, while swishing three 3-point baskets and going 6-for-7 from the free throw line to complete the best scoring game of her career. She led a well-balanced effort by Hillsdale, who had four players score in double figures.
Ferris State was the aggressor to start the game, opening up a 34-18 lead with 6:26 left in the second quarter. The Bulldogs were mixing a physical style with plain-old shot making in building their big early lead.
But momentum shifted late in the second quarter and never went the other way. The Chargers finished the first half on a 21-6 run that all but erased the Bulldogs' advantage. Six different players scored points in that quarter-ending flurry.
Halftime didn't slow Hillsdale down one bit. Cromer opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer that gave the Chargers their first lead of the game. Two possessions later, freshman Brittany Gray hit a three, and junior Morgan Blair got in on the fun with a three of her own, and 2:30 into the quarter, the Chargers found themselves with a 50-44 lead. A lead they would only build on the rest of the game.
Hillsdale's lead grew to as large as 16 late in the fourth quarter, which meant the game underwent a 32-point turnaround, from Ferris State's biggest lead.
Blair had a fine all-around game with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Gray had 12 points with 4 assists, while sophomore Allie Dittmer played an impressive game in the paint, registering a double-double with 11 points and a season-high 13 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Becca Scherting, Madison Berry and Makenna Ott each added 9 points to the offense.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: Cromer's 23 also represents a team-season high in scoring by any player in a game this season…Hillsdale outscored Ferris State by 3, 7 and 7 points over the last three quarters…The Chargers enjoyed a 25-9 edge in points off turnovers, and swiped 11 steals in the win, led by Scherting's 4…This was Hillsdale's first home win over Ferris State since Dec. 7, 2010.
UP NEXT: Hillsdale makes its last regular season trip to Grand Valley State Saturday afternoon, facing off with the Lakers at 1 p.m.
PHOTO CREDIT: Kadie Lowery