In a game neither team expected to be playing 48 hours prior, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team overcame a slow start and hung tight with host Findlay for four quarters on Thursday.
In the end, however, the Chargers couldn't get the stops or the points they needed down the stretch in an 88-77 loss to the Oilers to open the 2020-21 season.
Findlay used an 19-point advantage at the free throw line to outscore the Chargers 56-46 in the second half, closing the door with a strong performance at the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the victory as Hillsdale was forced to foul to try and extend the game.
The Oilers got off to a fast start, leading by as many as 15 points and shooting nearly 80 percent from the floor in the first quarter.
But Hillsdale adjusted to Findlay's interior-heavy attack defensively and clawed their way back into the game with an 11-0 run that started late in the first quarter and extended into the second. The Chargers outscored the Oilers 16-7 in the second stanza and trailed just 32-31 at halftime.
That was as close as the Chargers would get, however. Hillsdale had multiple opportunities to take the lead in the second and third quarter but couldn't string together a run big enough to pull ahead.
After a 1 for 9 start from 3-point range in the first half, Findlay found its shooting touch from the outside in the second half, knocking down six 3-pointers that, combined with their edge at the free throw line, allowed the Oilers to pull away in the fourth quarter.
It was Hillsdale's own 3-point shooting that helped the Chargers get back in the game in the first half and stay in the game in the second half. Hillsdale knocked down 13 3-pointers in the contest, including five from leading scorer Lauren Daffenberg. Those made 3s helped Hillsdale remain competitive despite a 36-24 deficit to the Oilers in points in the paint, and a 19-0 deficit in fast break points.
Daffenberg finished with 19 points and five rebounds to lead the Chargers. Her five made 3-pointers gives the junior 125 for her career, and moves her into 10th all-time on the Chargers' career 3-pointers made list, surpassing the 124 hit by Kadie Lowery from 2012 to 2015.
Behind Daffenberg, Hillsdale got solid contributions offensively up and down the lineup. In her first start as a Charger, junior center Anna LoMonaco was 4-for-7 from the floor with a career high 12 points in 18 minutes, and her backup, sophomore Arianna Sysum, chipped in 10 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes of action as well.
Junior Grace Touchette chipped in 10 points and added a career-high nine assists on the night as well for Hillsdale, and senior Jaycie Burger bounced back from a cold start shooting the ball and found her rhythm late, adding 10 points and six assists as well.
Sophomore forward Sydney Mills had a huge night on the boards for the Chargers, grabbing a career-high 21 rebounds -- just seven off the single-game school record of 28 set by All-American Katie Cezat in the 2008-09 season. Mills also added eight points, and freshman Dani Salenbien chipped in six points in her first collegiate game action for Hillsdale.
Although the Chargers shot just 34.6% from the floor, Hillsdale shared the ball well, as 20 of their 27 made baskets on the night were assisted. That unselfishness should serve the Chargers well as the season goes on.
Bridget Landin led Findlay with a 27 point, 12 rebound double-double, Sydney Kin chipped in a 19 point, 12 rebound double-double as well, and Amber Schweiger finished with 20 points.
Originally, the Oilers and Chargers weren't supposed to meet until 2021. Findlay was supposed to play Trevecca Nazarene on Thursday, while Hillsdale hosted Kentucky Wesleyan, but positive Covid-19 tests for both the Trojans and Panthers forced the cancellations of both games. That left the Oilers and Chargers with an open date, and both teams elected to move their Jan. 2 date up to Dec. 3 to fill the gap.
Hillsdale (0-1, 0-1 G-MAC) will look to bounce back next Thursday as it travels to Ohio Dominican to take on a Panthers team that upset Cedarville 95-92 in a wild thriller on Thursday night.
Photo: Hillsdale guard Lauren Daffenberg (21) attacks the basket during Thursday's game at Findlay. Photo by Erin Whiteleather