SATURDAY RECAP
The Charger women's basketball team was handed a loss for the first time this season Saturday afternoon, 77-65, to Mercyhurst College in a Thanksgiving Weekend event being held in Ashland, Ohio.
Hillsdale is now 4-1 on the season.
The Chargers fell behind the Lakers early in the game, getting outscored by five in the first quarter and six in the second. The teams played evenly throughout the second half, but Hillsdale was unable to put together an extended run to cut into the deficit.
Although Hillsdale enjoyed a 37-29 edge on the boards, the team shot just 39 percent from the field and 31 percent from behind the 3-point stripe. The Lakers countered by hitting 11 3-point baskets, and shot 54 percent for the game.
Sophomore guard Allie Dewire scored a season-high 13 points to lead Hillsdale. Sophomore Brittany Gray came off the bench to score 11, hitting four of her six shots from the floor. Sophomores Makenna Ott and Michele Boykin each scored 7 for Hillsdale. Junior Maddy Reed set new career-highs with 11 rebounds and 6 steals in a starting role.
SUNDAY RECAP
Clutch play in the fourth quarter helped the Hillsdale College women's basketball team get back into the win column Sunday afternoon.
The Chargers stood tied with Slippery Rock University entering the fourth quarter of their non-conference matchup in Ashland, Ohio. Hillsdale played well enough on both ends to pull out a 68-63 win, finishing play this weekend with a 5-1 overall record.
Hillsdale outscored SRU 20-15 in that final quarter, making 10 of 14 free throws as a team to help finish off the victory. The team maintained its aggressive style of play, forcing Slippery Rock to foul on defense. Leading the way were a pair of juniors, who both had outstanding games.
Center Allie Dittmer returned to form with a double-double, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Chargers. She made all four of her fourth-quarter free throws, and was 6-for-13 from the field in the game.
Maddy Reed was an even bigger force on the boards, grabbing a career-high 15 to go along with 12 points for Hillsdale. Nine of her rebounds came on the offensive end, giving Hillsdale critical extra possessions in a tightly played game. Reed was 3-for-4 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
In the game's first three quarters, the Chargers made just two free throws as a team. But when it counted most, they got to the line the most often, and made enough for the win.
Senior Morgan Blair played a strong game with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Sophomore Brittany Gray came off the bench to add 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals to the win, doing all that in just 26 minutes. Sophomore guard Michele Boykin added 8 points.
PHOTO CREDIT: Carly Gouge