The Hillsdale College women's basketball team put up a good fight on the road against the top team in the land, but ultimately couldn't keep pace with the undefeated Ashland Eagles in an 83-59 loss on Saturday afternoon.
The Chargers showed grit on the road in the first half, overcoming a double-digit first quarter deficit to close within three points, 26-23, on a Peighton Nelson jump shot with 5:57 to play in the second quarter. But the Eagles finished the final six minutes of the first half on an 18-4 run to pull away, and while Hillsdale prevented Ashland from growing the lead much further, the Chargers also were unable to meaningfully cut into the deficit in the second half as Ashland shot 48.6% from the floor to keep Hillsdale at arm's length for the duration of the contest.
Hillsdale shot a solid 41.4% from the floor and 41.2% from 3-point range, but couldn't overcome 18 turnovers against a tough Eagles defense offensively to stay in the game. Sophomore Kendall McCormick had a huge game for the Chargers off the bench, shooting 6 of 11 from the floor and scoring a team-leading 13 points in one of the most impressive performances of her young career.
Senior Sydney Mills added 10 points and four rebounds for the Chargers, Grace Touchette chipped in seven points and seven rebounds, Lauren McDonald added seven points and five rebounds, and Maverick Delp finished with seven points for Hillsdale.
The Chargers are now 16-13 overall, 9-10 in G-MAC play, and have one game left in the regular season, traveling to Findlay next Saturday for their final game before the G-MAC Tournament. Hillsdale already has locked up a spot in the G-MAC Tourney but the game against the Oilers is an important one for Hillsdale, as a victory gives the Chargers a strong chance to move off the eight seed line and avoid a first round rematch with the undefeated Eagles on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in the G-MAC Tourney Quarterfinals.
Photo by McKenna Eichholz