The Hillsdale College women's basketball team entered the 2022-23 season on Saturday looking to take their rise as a program to new heights.
So far, they're off to a good start.
The Chargers nabbed an impressive win in the season opener in front of a strong home crowd in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena on Saturday, taking down a Truman State team that's projected to be one of the top teams in both the GLVC and the Midwest Region in a 98-90 overtime thriller.
Hillsdale shot a solid 42.9 percent from the floor and knocked down 14 three-pointers to stun the Bulldogs, who seemed to have the Chargers well in hand after jumping out to a 15-6 lead in the first five minutes of the contest.
Two three pointers in quick succession by senior guard Grace Touchette helped Hillsdale close the gap, and the Chargers were down just 20-19 at the end of the first quarter, before pulling ahead at halftime with a 38-37 edge.
For the next quarter and a half, the game was nip-and-tuck, with neither team gaining a decisive edge. Hillsdale began to take control with under five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, as a five-point mini run by Touchette gave Hillsdale a 80-72 edge with under three minutes to play. Truman State dug deep and held Hillsdale scoreless over the final two and a half minutes, tying the game at 80 on a layup with 48 seconds to play. The Bulldogs had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Touchette came up big again, blocking a layup attempt at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
In the second period, Hillsdale decisively pulled ahead. Touchette made a contested jump shot just nine second into the period to give the Chargers a lead they would never relinquish, and on the next possession, sophomore Caitlin Splain hit a 3-pointer to put Hillsdale up five. Mills and Splain each hit two more free throws at the line to give Hillsdale an 89-80 lead with 1:58 to play.
From there, Truman did its best to extend the game with timeouts and intentional fouls, but the Chargers were clutch at the line to eliminate any chance of a Bulldogs comeback. Hillsdale was 12 for 12 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes of the extra period to secure the victory.
Touchette had the first 30-plus point game of her storied career at Hillsdale to lead the Chargers to the victory, finishing with 31 points and six rebounds. She was one of five Chargers in double figures -- senior Sydney Mills added 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Chargers, sophomore Carly Callahan chipped in 16 points and five assists off the bench, and Arianna Sysum and Splain each chipped in 13 points for Hillsdale. Efficient offense was a huge key for the Chargers, who committed just 12 turnovers in the contest and limited empty possessions down the stretch.
Hillsdale is now 1-0 overall and takes the court again on Sunday at home, playing another GLVC foe in Quincy and looking to stay unbeaten early in the season. Tipoff for that contest is at 2 p.m. in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.
Photo by Anthony Lupi