The Hillsdale College women's basketball team played one of its best games of the season to date on Wednesday night coming off of Christmas break, putting a scare into host and Division I opponent Eastern Michigan in an exhibition contest.
The Chargers hung with the Eagles for three quarters, trailing just 55-53 with 19 seconds to go in the third period, before EMU's size advantage proved to be too much to overcome in the fourth quarter of a 76-61 final.
At a size and speed deficit against a DI foe, the Chargers used good ball movement and even better 3-point shooting to stay in touch throughout the contest. Hillsdale knocked down 11 3-pointers at a 40.7% clip in the loss, making use of long-distance scoring to claw their way back from an early 15-5 deficit and take the lead midway through the second quarter. Sophomore guard Caitlin Splain was 3 for 4 in the first quarter on 3-pointers to help the Chargers battle back to even, and finished 5 of 9 for the game with a team-high 15 points for the Chargers.
A driving layup by Peighton Nelson with 3:04 left in the second quarter gave Hillsdale a 30-28 lead, and after a 8-0 run put EMU back in front, senior Sydney Mills hit a 3-pointer and drew a foul with 1:04 left in the half, converting a four-point play to ensure the Chargers trailed by just three points, 37-34, at halftime.
A fast-paced third quarter saw the Chargers and Eagles going blow-for-blow, with neither team gaining the advantage over the first nine and a half minutes of the second half. Sophomore Carly Callahan scored five of her seven points on back-to-back possessions to help keep the Chargers in contact.
A 5-0 run by EMU in the final 20 seconds of the third quarter helped the Eagles stretch its lead to 60-53 entering the fourth, and EMU used that late momentum to seize control of the game in the final period. With two 6-foot-3 players in its rotation and another 6-foot-1 forward in the starting lineup, EMU had a big size advantage throughout the contest and outscored the Chargers 34-14 in the paint, with much of that gap coming in the final period as the Eagles pulled away late.
Along with Splain's 15 points, senior Grace Touchette chipped in 11 points and four rebounds as well, and Mills added 10 points and seven rebounds to give the Chargers three players in double figures.
Although Hillsdale didn't come away with the upset, the performance should be a big confidence boost for the Chargers, who went toe-to-toe with a solid NCAA Division I program on the road. If Hillsdale can build off this effort in upcoming conference play, the Chargers could have a strong finish to the second half of its season.
Hillsdale (7-6, 2-3 G-MAC) continues a non-conference stretch on Friday, when it hosts Madonna at 5 p.m. for its first home contest since Dec. 13.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan