It's been a long wait since last February for the Hillsdale College women's basketball team.
This weekend, the Chargers are back in action, looking to kick off the 2021-22 season on the right foot in road contests at Saginaw Valley St. on Friday and Northwood on Saturday.
Hillsdale is hoping for big improvements this season after a young and injury-plagued team struggled to a 4-17 record in the 2020-21 season.
With several key players back and a year older from that squad, as well as several reinforcements added to the roster in the offseason, the Chargers are looking to make a move up the standings in the G-MAC.
This weekend will be Hillsdale's first test against two solid, veteran teams with enough talent to give the Chargers a good assessment of where they stand early on.
Schedule
Hillsdale (0-0, 0-0 G-MAC) at Saginaw Valley State (0-0, 0-0 GLIAC) | 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12 | James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena | University Center, MI
Hillsdale (0-0, 0-0 G-MAC) at Northwood (0-0, 0-0 GLIAC) | 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 | Bennett Sports Center | Midland, MI
Follow/Watch
Live Stats vs SVSU | Webcast vs SVSU (Pay Per View) | Tickets vs SVSU | Live Stats vs Northwood | Webcast vs Northwood (Pay Per View) | Tickets vs Northwood
Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | SVSU Roster | Northwood Roster | 2020-21 Hillsdale Stats | 2020-21 SVSU Stats | 2020-21 Northwood Stats
Players to Watch
Hillsdale: #2 Dani Salenbien, So., G, Adrian, MI/Lenawee Christian (7.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.3 apg); #22 Grace Touchette, Sr., G, Northfield, MN/Northfield (13.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.2 apg); #5 Sydney Mills, Jr., F, DeWitt, MI/DeWitt (14.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg); #32 Arianna Sysum, Jr., F, Eaton Rapids, MI/Eaton Rapids (9.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.0 bpg); #21 Lauren Daffenberg, So., G, Yorkville, IL/Yorkville (11.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
SVSU: #20 Maddie Maloney, Sr., G, St. Johns, MI/St. Johns (11.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.8 apg); #44 Tyler Scheid, Jr., G/F, Coldwater, MI/Coldwater (3.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg); #24 Kyndall Spires, Sr., C, Cardington, OH/Cardington-Lincoln (5 ppg, 3.6 rpg); #10 Kaitlyn Zarycki, Jr., G, Niles, MI/Edwardsburg (14 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.8 spg); #4 Maddie Barrie, Sr., G, Midland, MI/Midland (9.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
Northwood: #32 Brooke Ditto, Sr, F, Mattawan, MI/Mattawan (7.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg); #4 Alli Keyser, Jr., G, Spring Lake, MI/Grand Haven (9.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.1 spg); #40 Alana Nelson, So., C, Springport, MI/Springport (8.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg); #10 Ellie Taylor, Sr., G, Midland, MI/Dow, St. Louis University (6.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg); #3 Makenzie Todd, Jr., G, Grand Ledge, MI/Grand Ledge (11.3 ppg)
Scouting the Opposition
SVSU: The Cardinals are coming off an up-and-down season in 2020-21, where SVSU finished 10-10 with a GLIAC Tournament semifinal appearance, but return every player who saw the court last year and will look to make a push up the standings with a veteran lineup.
SVSU's hopes start with a strong back-court tandem, led by two All-GLIAC honorees in high-scoring shooting guard Kaitlyn Zarycki and rock-solid point guard Maddie Maloney. The pair combined to average 25.6 points per game last year. Senior Maddie Barrie is a solid third option on the perimeter as well.
In the post, the Cardinal rotation of Tori DePerry and Kyndall Spires gives SVSU flexibility, though the Cardinals will likely be looking for the pair to provide more scoring punch inside in 2021-22.
SVSU is already off to a strong start, falling just two points short of pulling a big upset of Division I Central Michigan in an exhibition contest on Nov. 4, and will provide a stiff challenge.
The Cardinals are coached by Jenny Pruett, who is entering her third season with SVSU holding a 22-27 record so far. Prior to taking the SVSU job, Pruett spent several seasons as an assistant at multiple Division I programs, including St. Bonaventure, Kent St. and Central Michigan.
Northwood: Coming off an excellent season in 2020-21 that included an NCAA Tournament appearance, and with four starters back, Northwood is hoping for big things in 2021-22.
Arguably the Timberwolves' most exciting returnee isn't even one of those four returning starters, as Makenzie Todd returns for her junior year. Despite coming off the bench for 11 games, Todd led Northwood in scoring and earned second-team All-GLIAC honors. She figures to play an even bigger role this season.
Northwood is also looking for a big leap from sophomore center Alana Nelson, who has the size inside to become a force in the GLIAC as she continues to develop. Guards Ellie Taylor, a Division I transfer, and Alli Keyser provide dependable scoring, and Brooke Ditto is also a solid presence inside.
The Timberwolves made the NCAA Tournament last season on the backs of an excellent defensive performance, and will look to continue that in 2021-22, while also becoming more efficient and explosive offensively to better hang with tough teams in the Midwest Region.
Northwood is led by first-year head coach Autumn Haggadone, who takes over for Jeff Curtis, who resigned this past summer to become the Northwood Athletic Director. She spent four seasons as an assistant with the Timberwolves before taking the head job, and also coached at her Alma Mater, Albion College, as an assistant.
Scouting Hillsdale
After a difficult, injury-plagued season in 2020-21, a mix of experienced returners and exciting incoming talent has the Hillsdale College women's basketball team aiming for a great leap forward in 2021-22.
The Chargers return four starters from last season's 4-17 team, led by junior forward Sydney Mills, who averaged 14.8 points and 10.4 rebounds and earned second-team All-G-MAC honors, and senior combo guard Grace Touchette, who chipped in 13.5 points as well.
Along with those two dependable leaders, Hillsdale also returns two breakout players from 2020-21, junior Arianna Sysum and sophomore Dani Salenbien, who both performed well above expectations last season and should continue to improve this year with more experience under their belts.
The Chargers also have one of the best reserve players in the conference in senior Lauren Daffenberg, who shot 40.8 percent from 3-point range and averaged 11.4 points off the bench for the Chargers, and reserve forward Maverick Delp, who logged critical minutes in the paint last season.
Added to that nucleus is a six-player incoming class of four freshmen and two transfers who should contribute right away and add critical depth the Chargers lacked throughout 2020-21 as a wave of injuries took their toll.
In particular, freshmen Peighton Nelson, Caitlin Splain and Carly Callahan could all contend for major minutes early, while Kendall McCormick and Colorado Mesa transfer Noelle Lavery also will be in position to meaningfully contribute as the year wears on.
Hillsdale is coached by Charlie Averkamp, who returns for his second season with the Chargers this year, along with two new assistants, Brianna Brennan and Brooke Bailey.
Other Notes
- The Chargers were picked to finish 11th in the G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour, in line with their 11th place finish in 2020-21. Hillsdale was picked to finish ahead of Lake Erie in 12th place, with two teams tied for ninth just ahead of the Chargers – Trevecca Nazarene and Ursuline. Walsh was picked as the favorite to win the league, with conference newcomer Ashland close behind in second place.
- Hillsdale has a long history with both teams it plays this weekend, as all three squads were founding members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1975. The Chargers are 18-36 all-time against SVSU, though the Chargers are 16-7 against the Cardinals since 2000. Hillsdale is 24-29 against Northwood, including a win in the most recent meeting on Nov. 10, 2019. Both the Chargers and Timberwolves will see each other more frequently moving forward, as Northwood joins Hillsdale in the G-MAC beginning next fall.
- Junior Sydney Mills had a breakout season as a sophomore, averaging a double-double with 14.8 points and a G-MAC leading 10.4 rebounds per game and earning second-team All-G-MAC honors. Mills had one of the best all-around games in a decade last season against Ursuline, scoring a career-high 34 points that were the most by a Charger woman in a single game since All-American Megan Fogt scored 41 against Walsh in the 2013-14 season. Mills also grabbed 13 rebounds in that contest.
- Senior Lauren Daffenberg enters the season already entrenched high on the Chargers' all-time 3-pointers made list. Daffenberg is 5th in Hillsdale history in career made 3-pointers with 173, 10 behind Jenn Carlson (2003-07) and her 183 made 3-pointers for fourth all-time. The record-holder for the Chargers is Chelsea Harrison, with 237 made 3-pointers in her career. Daffenberg may not be the only active player on the list for long – senior Grace Touchette has 120 3-pointers, just 15 behind Liz Cibor's 135, and could break into the top 10 soon.