Hillsdale College senior Sydney Mills became the women's basketball program's all-time leading rebounder on the road on Saturday, but, despite a late comeback, the Chargers couldn't escape Findlay with a victory in a tight 61-57 loss to the Oilers.
Mills set the record in the first quarter with her second rebound of the contest, moving past Sandy Skaisgir's mark of 1,146 set from 1987 to 1991. The senior finished the game with four points and 10 rebounds, giving her now 1,155 for her career, and with 1,396 points, Mills also ranks eighth all-time at Hillsdale College in career scoring with at least two more games to add to both totals.
The contest was a close affair throughout, with neither team holding more than a five point lead in the first half, and Hillsdale heading to the break trailing Findlay 32-31. The Oilers seized control late in the third quarter, outscoring Hillsdale 11-2 in the final four minutes of the period to take a nine point lead into the fourth quarter. Hillsdale refused to go away, outscoring Findlay 13-8 in the final quarter and holding the Oilers to just two made baskets in the period to give themselves a chance.
Junior Caitlin Splain hit a 3-pointer for the Chargers with 29 seconds to go to cut the deficit to 58-57, and got the ball back down three with 19 seconds to go and a chance to tie, but the critical 3-pointer didn't go for Hillsdale as time ran down.
The Chargers scored 19 points off Findlay turnovers and made nine 3-pointers, but couldn't overcome an off-shooting night on the road, as Hillsdale shot just 35% from the floor in the loss.
Junior Ashley Konkle was big in the paint for Hillsdale with 12 points and three rebounds, freshman Savannah Smith added 11 points, and Splain chipped in 11 points and four assists as well. Junior Lauren McDonald finished with eight points, four assists and two steals for the Chargers.
The loss is a blow for Hillsdale, which falls to 15-11 overall and 11-7 in G-MAC play, but the Chargers still control their own destiny for qualification for the G-MAC Tournament, and need to win just one of their final two games to secure their spot. The Chargers will get an immediate rematch and a shot at revenge on the Oilers on their home floor this coming Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in a game with massive postseason implications for both squads.
Photo by Meredith Wipper, Findlay Athletics