Two very different games took place within the same contest played by the Hillsdale College women's basketball team Friday afternoon.
Playing the first of a two-games in two-days run at Ashland University, the Chargers stormed back from a big first-half hole to defeat Urbana University 82-65. Hillsdale is now 6-1 on the season, and will face Davis & Elkins at 1:00 Saturday afternoon.
The Chargers got off to a slow start against the Blue Knights, falling behind by as many as 14 points (39-25) in the first half. Urbana was cooking from long range, making its first six 3-point shots while holding a significant advantage at the free throw line. Thirty of Urbana's 42 first-half points came from either free throws or 3-pointers.
But even before the first half ended, the Chargers started to regain their footing. Hillsdale finished the first half on an 11-3 run to tighten the gap to six, 42-36. The 15-minute halftime break did nothing to slow the Chargers down, and it was their returning All-American who helped lead the way.
Senior forward Megan Fogt turned in a signature performance with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, while going 10-for-12 from the field. Fogt had 6 points and 4 rebounds in the first six minutes of the second half, when Hillsdale really took control of this game.
It took three minutes of the second half for the Chargers to tie the game, thanks to a three by senior Kadie Lowery (13 points). In a six-minute span from the 14 to the eight minute mark, Hillsdale went on a 16-4 run to open up a double digit lead, one it would never relinquish.
After shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half, Urbana was held to just five made field goals in the second half by the Charger defense. The Blue Knights shot 21 percent from the floor in the second half (5-for-24). Hillsdale complemented that with a huge edge on the boards, outrebounding Urbana 45-26. The Chargers grabbed a season-high 19 offensive rebounds.
Senior Brooke Borowski and junior Kayla geffert each scored 7 points for the Chargers in the win. Junior Kelsey Cromer had 8 points, 5 rebounds and a steal as well. Junior forward Sarah Theut made a strong contribution off the bench with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block in 15 effective minutes.