The Hillsdale College women’s basketball team defeated the University of Illinois-Springfield 69-54 to go 1-1 in the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Challenge.
Before getting their first win, the Chargers lost to McKendree University the night before, on Friday, Nov. 22, with an overtime buzzer-beater shot.
“It was a heartbreaker,” junior Megan Fogt said. “It was a fun game, but it was tough.”
Hillsdale was ahead most of the game, but fell behind 67-70 with 19 seconds left in regulation.
Senior Marissa DeMott hit a three-point jump shot with five seconds left to tie the game and take it into overtime.
Hillsdale took the lead in overtime, but lost 74-77 with a last second three-pointer for McKendree.
“They were hitting threes all night,” Fogt said.
Hillsdale only made 17 of 31 free throws, which head coach Claudette Charney attributed to the loss.
Fogt said Hillsdale used the loss against McKendree as motivation for Saturday’s game against the University of Illinois-Springfield.
“We honestly played one of the best defensive games since I have been here,” Fogt said.
Three minutes into the game, the Chargers took a 9-0 lead, and they held onto it for the rest of the game.
“We set the tone defensively from the beginning and controlled the game,” Charney said in an email response. “We led by 19 at the half and played efficiently at both ends of the floor.”
After the tournament, Fogt was named the GLIAC South Division Player of the Week.
“It’s always an honor,” Fogt said. “But honestly, it comes down to getting those wins. All the titles in the world don’t mean anything if you don’t have wins on the board.”
Fogt currently has 18.2 rebounds per game, which is the highest in Division II so far this season.
In the tournament, Fogt played a tremendous game, scoring 29 points and 27 rebounds against McKendree, and 27 points and nine rebounds against the University of Illinois-Springfield.
Tonight, Hillsdale plays its first conference game against Northwood University. The team will be away from campus until after their game on Saturday against Lake Superior State University.
“It is really tough to be missing those final classes,” Fogt said.
The Chargers will have to miss the final two days of class, and then come back to begin finals.
“The professors are really understanding as long as we are putting effort in and not slacking,” senior Angela Bisaro said.
The basketball season is just beginning as the school semester is wrapping up, which can be challenging.
“It is so exciting to finally be playing games that it is hard not to let it take precedence over school,” Bisaro said.
The team will be on campus through most of the Christmas break, with home games on Dec. 14 and 16, and games on Jan. 2, 4, 9, and 11.
The players will go home for Christmas, but come back on Dec. 30, Bisaro said.
“The win on Saturday gave us a big boost,” Bisaro said. “It has propelled us forward. We are excited to get some wins and have a good year.”
