In its first postseason appearance since 2019, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team didn't quite pull off the upset.
But the seventh-seeded Chargers left no doubt they belonged on the postseason stage, pushing second-seeded and heavily-favored Kentucky Wesleyan to overtime and to the brink of a major upset on the Panthers' home floor before falling in a 74-73 nailbiter on Tuesday afternoon.
The Chargers were in the game throughout, taking a 34-31 lead into halftime and holding the lead for much of the third quarter. Even when Kentucky Wesleyan surged to take the lead in fourth, the Chargers refused to go away, cutting the Panthers' lead to a one-possession game. Trailing by three with four seconds to go and the ball, the Panthers fouled Hillsdale's Sydney Mills to prevent the Chargers from getting a potential tying 3-pointer off, and it looked like Hillsdale had run out of time.
But the Chargers weren't done yet. Mills hit the first free throw, then intentionally missed the second, and senior guard Grace Touchette outmuscled two taller Kentucky Wesleyan players for the offensive rebound and scored on a put-back as time expired to send the game to overtime all tied up at 64-64. It was arguably the biggest bucket of Touchette's storied five-year career at Hillsdale, and also was the one that tied her career high on points on the afternoon in her final contest as a Charger.
Hillsdale started out the overtime period quickly, riding the momentum of their stunning last-second comeback. Touchette hit a midrange jumper to give the Chargers the lead, sophomore Lauren McDonald extended Hillsdale's lead to 68-64 with a layup. At the other end, senior Arianna Sysum swatted a Kentucky Wesleyan shot to get the ball back for the Chargers, and Hillsdale had a four-point lead and possession with just 3:30 to go in the overtime period.
But the lead wouldn't hold up for Hillsdale, as the Panthers came roaring back on a 8-0 run over the next three minutes to turn a 68-64 deficit into a 72-68 lead. Hillsdale got two free throws from Sysum with five seconds to play and a 3-pointer from sophomore Caitlin Splain to with one second to go in overtime to give the Chargers a chance, but Kentucky Wesleyan hit just enough free throws in the closing seconds to hold on to a 74-73 lead by the slimmest of margins as time expired.
Touchette entered Tuesday's contest fifth all-time in Hillsdale history in career points and played the finest game in her five years as a Charger to try and extend Hillsdale's season. The senior finished with a career-high 33 points on 13 of 23 shooting from the floor, as well as three rebounds and three assists. Splain went 4 for 7 from 3-point range to chip in 12 points for the Chargers, Sysum added 10 points, eight rebounds and a career-high four blocks in her final game as a Charger, and McDonald chipped in nine points and three rebounds as well. Mills finished with 10 rebounds on the day to lead the Chargers in that stat.
Hillsdale finishes the season 17-14 overall, with its most wins since the 2018-19 season that doubles as the last time the Chargers made the G-MAC Tournament. While Hillsdale won't be playing in Friday's semifinal, nearly knocking off a team that had won 15 of its last 16 games bodes well for the future as Hillsdale continues to improve with each passing season under head coach Charlie Averkamp.
The Chargers lose two starters this offseason that will be tough to replace in Touchette, a four-year starter and vital presence for the team, and Sysum, a major contributor defensively, as well as key substitute Maverick Delp and fellow bench player Macy Berglund.
But despite the losses, there should be optimism that the Chargers should continue their upward trend, with a loaded rising junior class that includes starters Peighton Nelson and Carly Callahan, Splain, a sharpshooter, and McDonald and McCormick, both key contributors off the bench. Hillsdale will look to continue to develop and grow, with the goal of going even farther in the G-MAC Tournament next season.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan