It was a complete performance, in every way, from start to finish.
The Hillsdale College women's basketball team raced to its seventh win in a row, 76-51, over Ohio Dominican University in Columbus Saturday afternoon. The Chargers are now 15-11 overall and 12-7 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
In the final road game of the regular season, Hillsdale put on a masterful performance in all phases of the game. Although the team shot just 29 percent in the first quarter, it held a commanding 20-6 lead thanks to three made 3-point shots while holding the Panthers to 13 percent shooting in the opening quarter.
In three of Saturday's four quarters, the Chargers shot below 30 percent, but this game was never close after the first quarter because of how well the team performed on the boards and on defense. Hillsdale held Ohio Dominican to 32.2 percent shooting in the game (19-for-59) and dominayed the Panthers on the boards.
Improved rebounding has been one of the keys to the team's seven-game winning streak. In Thursday's win at Ohio Valley, Hillsdale set a single-game school record with 64 rebounds. Although the team's 56 rebounds Saturday weren't a school record, it was still an amazing job in that aspect of the game.
The Chargers outrebounded the Panthers 56-34 and held a commanding 19-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. That contributed to Hillsdale taking 17 more field goal attempts in the game, which helped compensate for a 37 percent shooting percentage in the game.
Senior forward Makenna Ott stepped up with a strong game, leading the team with 15 points. She was one of five players in double figures in the win.
Sophomore guard Jaycie Burger scored 12, the second-most she's had in a game this season. Allie Dewire, Lauren Daffenberg and Brittany Gray all tossed in 11 points. Freshman Lauren Daffenberg scored 9 points off the bench, making three 3-point baskets.
Dewire set a new career-high with 14 rebounds, 10 of them coming in the first half. Gray and Amaka Chikwe each secured 7 boards and Ott had 8 rebounds in another superior effort on the glass for the red-hot Chargers.
PHOTO: MaryKate Drews