After seven straight games on the road, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team was looking forward to returning home for a pair of games over the next couple of days.
The home cooking was just right,
The Chargers played with superior effort and energy all 40 minutes in an impressive 91-72 win over the University of Findlay Saturday afternoon at the Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. It was the Chargers' first G-MAC win of the season and makes the team 3-7 overall.
Hillsdale's committment to hard work, especially on the boards, was evident from the opening moments of the game, when it jumped out to a 7-2 lead on the Oilers. The game stayed close throughout the first half, but the Chargers maintained their strong effort all over the floor, setting the stage for a decisive third quarter.
In those 10 minutes right after halftime, Hillsdale outscored Findlay 27-11, opening up a 20-plus point lead that was solid the rest of the way. Findlay attempted to exploit the Charger guards with a variety of presses, but Hillsdale was effective against it, making smart passes while the players effectively positioned themselves against the Oiler defense time after time.
Hillsdale outrebounded Findlay 59-43, holding firm control over a key aspect of the game. The team's effort on the boards helped erase any turnovers it committed against the Oiler pressure.
Offensively, the Chargers got a little from a lot of people, led by 24 points from sophomore guard Lauren Daffenberg. She was one of three starters in double figures in scoring, joined by junior Jaycie Burger (13 points) and senior Sydney Anderson (15).
Anderson in particular was strong in all aspects of the game, coming within reach of a triple double. She added 10 rebounds and 7 assists to a very active and game-changing performance for the Chargers.
Younger players like Macy Berglund (5 points, 6 rebounds off the bench), Kennedy Pratt (8 points off the bench) and Anna LoMonaco (10 rebounds off the bench) gave the Chargers, a team battling injuries, the kind of key depth contributions necessary in any good win like this one.
PHOTO: Camryn Olson