A frigid shooting start to the game proved to be too much for the Charger women's basketball team to overcome in a 69-62 loss to Trevecca Nazarene Saturday afternoon in Nashville.
The loss drops Hillsdale to 8-11 overall and 6-7 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
In the first half, Hillsdale trailed by as many as 15 points and missed 16 of its first 17 3-point shots from the field. A 19-4 first-quarter deficit got trimmed to 5 in the second, but the Trojans responded, and led 38-25 at halftime.
A 16-8 third-quarter scoring edge gave the Chargers momentum back, and they briefly tied the game at 43 early in the fourth quarter. But again, Trevecca responded, this time with a 13-3 run that ultimately put the game out of reach.
Hillsdale shot 32 percent from the field in the game (21-for-66) and made five of 32 3-point attempts (15.6 percent). Those shooting numbers negated a strong team rebounding performance by the Chargers, who held a 54-46 advantage on the boards. Senior Brittany Gray led the way in that excellent rebounding effort, grabbing a career-high 13 in the game.
Gray's 19 points also led the team, as she crossed the 900-point barrier in her career in this game.
Freshman guard Lauren Daffenberg scored 16 points, making four of the team's five 3-point baskets. Senior guard Allie Dewire added 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists for Hillsdale, who will play its next three games at home.
PHOTO: MaryKate Drews