The first multi-overtime game in more than two years ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Hillsdale College women's basketball team.
The Chargers received an incredible performance from sophomore center Allie Dittmer, but it wasn't enough in a 78-75 loss to Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie Saturday afternoon. Hillsdale now stands at 9-12 overall and 6-11 in the GLIAC.
Dittmer was unstoppable by every force, except for the basketball rule book. She scored a career-high 29 points, going 14-for-18 from the field, to go along with 8 rebounds. Her 14 made field goals are the second-most in a game in school history, only trailing the 15 made by former All-American Katie Cezat.
But Dittmer fouled out two minutes into the second overtime, and the Chargers were unable to make up for the loss of their most productive offensive player in the game.
The Chargers got off to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, and led by double figures in the third, but the Lakers were able to use the 3-point shot to come back. Lake Superior State was 13-for-36 from 3-point land, compared to 5-for-16 for the Chargers. Although Hillsdale enjoyed a 47-33 edge on the boards, LSSU's 3-point proficiency made a big difference in the result.
Both teams attempted 20 free throws, but the Lakers made 15 compared to the Chargers' 12. LSSU won this game by three points. The Lakers hit a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer, and hit another with 4 seconds left in the third quarter.
Freshman guard Allie Dewire had 12 points while junior guard Becca Scherting scored 10. Junior Morgan Blair set a season-high with 8 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists in a career-high 41 minutes on the court.
UP NEXT: Hillsdale returns home to host Michigan Tech at 6 p.m. Thursday.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jim Drews