A 14-0 fourth-quarter run was the difference in the Hillsdale College women's basketball team's 75-59 defeat at the hands of Lake Erie College Saturday afternoon at Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.
The loss drops the Chargers to 4-10 overall and 1-5 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play.
This was a closely played contest through the first three-plus quarters, with neither team able to sustain extended momentum in an attempt to take a lead or control. Each team had mini-runs that allowed it a small lead, at different points throughout the contest. Hillsdale was more on-target from 3-point territory, but the Storm did an effective job at getting points in the paint.
The teams were tied at 56 with exactly 7:00 to go in the fourth quarter when the Storm took over, getting points on six consecutive possessions - the first three of those coming on free throws - to take control. Hillsdale scored just 3 points over the game's final seven minutes, suddenly going cold after a strong effort shooting for most of the game.
Hillsdale held Lake Erie to 3-for-15 shooting from 3-point land, and had a 41-40 edge in rebounds. But the Chargers were undone by 31 percent shooting from the field compared to 44 percent for the Storm. Lake Erie also got it done from the free throw line, converting 18 of its 21 attempts. Two of those misses came after the game-deciding 14-0 run.
Senior Sydney Anderson led a balanced attack for the Chargers with 15 points. Lauren Daffenberg and Grace Touchette each added 10 points while Jaycie Burger had 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Courtney Krol came off the bench to add 7 points and 4 rebounds.
PHOTO: MaryKate Drews