The Hillsdale College women's basketball team looked happy to be home for the first time on Tuesday evening, as the Chargers put on one of their most impressive all-around performances of the season to date in a 77-53 victory over Lake Superior State in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.
Hillsdale had a clear advantage in the post against the Lakers and took full advantage, getting to the rim at will throughout the contest. The Chargers outscored LSSU 50-22 on points in the paint and outrebounded the Lakers 48-31, turning 14 offensive rebounds into 15 second-chance points.
With Hillsdale attacking the basket effectively, the Chargers were able to get a balanced offensive effort, with four players in double figures and a fifth with nine points. The Chargers played especially well after halftime, shooting 52.6% from the floor in a 26 point third quarter that helped turn a 10-point halftime lead into a rout, and Hillsdale also shot 61.5% in the fourth quarter to help finish off the victory.
Junior Caitlin Splain knocked down three 3-pointers and led Hillsdale with 14 points on the night, while junior Lauren McDonald just missed the first triple double of her career with 13 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals in an all-around impressive performance.
Kendall McCormick added 12 points and four rebounds for the Chargers, while senior center Ashley Konkle had a big night in the paint, chipping in 10 points, five rebounds and two steals as well.
Redshirt freshman Sydney Pnacek added nine points, four rebounds and two steals as well for the Chargers, Emma Ruhlman chipped in six points and four rebounds, and Sydney Mills added five points and nine rebounds. Freshmen Savannah Smith and Annalise Pietrzyk each chipped in four points as well for Hillsdale.
While the Chargers offense finished strong in Tuesday's contest, Hillsdale's defense was impressive throughout, as the Chargers forced 10 steals and held the Lakers to 53 points and just 34.4 percent shooting from the floor.
The Chargers improve to 2-3 with the victory over a Lakers squad that had played tough against several future G-MAC opponents. Hillsdale next travels to Chicago on Saturday to face Roosevelt for a 2 p.m. ET tipoff.
Photo by Olivia Kindt