The Hillsdale College women's basketball team had just four wins last season and started this year 0-2, but over their trip to Alaska this past week, the Chargers have looked like a completely different team.
Less than 24 hours after taking second-ranked Alaska Anchorage to the wire, Hillsdale looked like a dominant favorite in their first victory of the season over Alaska Fairbanks, taking a 2-0 lead less than two minutes in and never trailing from there in an 81-69 victory on Saturday.
The Chargers led by as many as 18 points and didn't let the Nanooks back within single digits after pulling out to a 15-5 lead in the first quarter.
Four players finished in double figures as Hillsdale overwhelmed Fairbanks with a balanced attack. Senior guard Grace Touchette once again led the way with 18 points for her fourth-straight double-digit scoring game to open the season, and also chipped in three assists and two steals. Freshman guard Caitlin Splain bounced back from being held scoreless against Anchorage on Friday night with 17 points off the bench, regaining her shooting stroke with four made 3-pointers, and Arianna Sysum chipped in 11 points and five rebounds as well.
Dani Salenbien recorded her first career double double as well for the Chargers, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and junior Sydney Mills and freshman Peighton Nelson each chipped in eight points and made other big statistical contributions. Mills recorded her third-consecutive double digit rebound game with 10, as well as four assists and two steals, while Nelson quarterbacked the Charger offense with seven assists, six rebounds and two steals as well.
Hillsdale's defense played a key role in the victory, as the Chargers forced 22 Nanook turnovers and scored 25 points off of them. The Chargers also had a pronounced advantage at the line over the Nanooks, earning 28 free throws to Fairbanks' 13 with attacking play, and building a nine-point edge at the foul line.
Thanks to the victory, Hillsdale put two players on the Seawolf Hoops Classic All-Tournament team, as both Touchette and Sysum earned the nod after back-to-back double-digit scoring performances.
The Chargers, now 1-3 overall, return home this coming weekend with one final non-conference tune-up on tap on Sunday, Nov. 28. Hillsdale hosts Lake Superior St. at 2 p.m. on that day, and the Chargers also will be celebrating Family Day for that contest, with promotions and prizes for children who attend.
Photo Courtesy of Mark Pierce