It was a night to celebrate for Hillsdale College senior guard Allie Dewire.
Celebrating her 22nd birthday, Dewire scored her 1,000th career point over the course of a 78-61 win over Ohio Valley University Thursday night at the Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. Hillsdale got back on the winning track, improving its record to 8-7 overall and 603 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Dewire wasted little time in scoring the 5 points she needed to hit that milestone. She joined Makenna Ott as the second player on this year's team to hit the 1,000 point barrier. Dewire also became the 17th player in program history to attain that point total.
But she wasn't satisfied with just hitting 1,000. Dewire scored a team-high 20 points, making 12 of her 13 free throws in the win. Her customary quickness and ability to drive to the rim made her tough for the Fighting Scots defense to guard throughout the game.
Hillsdale actually trailed OVU 18-17 at the end of the first quarter, and the game stood with a difference of just one point at halftime. But the Chargers put together an impressive third quarter, outscoring the visitors 28-15 to break the game open.
The Chargers grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and scored 17 second-chance points compared to 6 for OVU. Hillsdale also held a 21-8 edge in points off turnovers.
Five players scored in double figures for the Chargers, with Ott and Lauren Daffenberg each scoring 14. Senior Brittany Gray, not far from 1,000 career points herself, scored 12, making three 3-point baskets, and Grace Touchette added 10 off the bench.
PHOTO: MaryKate Drews