Senior Caitlin Splain became the 21st Hillsdale women’s basketball player to score 1,000 points when she drilled a three against Cedarville University Jan. 30. 

“I knew I was probably gonna get it. I was super stressed that whole entire week,” Splain said. “During the game, I was more concerned about winning, but in my head, I’m still like, ‘Okay, I’m eight points away, six points away….’”

According to Splain, as soon as the ball left her hands, she heard the shouts of her teammates who could already see that it was going to go in. All at once, the fans in the Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena lifted up signs with the number “1,000” on them that Hillsdale staff had handed out in anticipation of the moment. 

“I had been sitting at 10 points for a while, and I was like, ‘Okay, I need a three,’ and my coach was like, ‘we’re gonna get you a three, we’ll get you an open one,’ and I just kept trying to make one,” Splain said. “I remember that one, we had a fast break, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna be perfect, I don’t miss these.’ And that’s exactly what happened.’”

Head coach Brianna Brennan said that it has been rewarding to watch Splain grow as a shooter and all-around player throughout her four years at Hillsdale. 

“She is a very driven student-athlete,” Brennan said. “The milestone is a testament to hard work and dedication.”

Junior Payton Adkins said that she and Splain had a running pre-game joke about how close she was to her goal for the weeks leading up to this game. On the night that she officially checked 1,000 points off of her bucket list, the joke became a reality. 

“There was no need to joke about a goal because I knew she was going to break a real one that night,” Adkins said. “When she did I was jumping up and down higher than I think I ever have.” 

As a shooting guard, Splain has been shooting three-pointers all four years at Hillsdale.

According to Splain, she started playing early in her freshman year and hit a career-high seven three-pointers during her second-ever Hillsdale game. Without that opportunity to start playing so soon, she said that reaching 1,000 points would have been much harder. 

“Caitlin’s strengths on the team includes being an elite shooter,” Brennan said. “She has always had a ‘next shot’ mentality which has helped her become the lethal shooter she is.”

Splain’s parents, who travel from Columbus, Ohio, for every game, took her to Rosalie’s to celebrate this accomplishment. 

Her mom had been particularly stressed on Splain’s behalf as she approached her 1,000th point. 

“My mom actually left during the fourth quarter because she was so stressed,” Splain said. “I was looking at the stands, and I saw my dad and by the look on his face, you could tell he was so stressed for me.”

Before coming to Hillsdale, Splain played varsity at her high school, as well as for a competitive travel team. She said that she chose Hillsdale for the academics, but absolutely loves the basketball she gets to play here. 

“Everyone always told me that you have to love the school more than you love your sport,” Splain said. “I mostly chose Hillsdale for the academics, but I also love the coaches and love the program, and so it worked out in both aspects.”

After graduating, Splain is hoping to play basketball internationally during a gap year before entering medical school. 

“I’ve realized I don’t really want to stop playing basketball, but I don’t really have a choice,” Splain said. 

According to Splain, playing at Hillsdale has helped her to mature both on and off of the court as a team leader. 

“I’ve never been the most outspoken person,” Splain said. “I don’t really say much, but I would say that the way I play is how I contribute to the team with my leadership skills. I do it more through action than I do through words.”

Splain’s teammates were quick to show their support for the accomplishment. According to Splain, they brought in a cookie cake and some posters to celebrate after jumping up and down on the bench when she made her shot. 

“[I love] just seeing her grow so much on and off the court, but also the energy she brings,” Adkins said. “She’s one of the first people to do some crazy celebration and scream and chest bump you. She’s one of your biggest cheerleaders.”

Splain’s name will already stand out in Hillsdale women’s basketball records; however, she still has the opportunity to accomplish one more goal as her final season winds to an end. 

“I am close to the career three-point record at Hillsdale for made threes over 4 years,” Splain said. “So hopefully I’ll get that. I’m 12 threes away!”

Splain said she will look back on her 1,000th point as one of the biggest highlights of her basketball career at Hillsdale. 

“Being a college athlete is hard. You have your highs and lows, so to be able to do all of that and accomplish a goal that not many achieve in high school let alone college is just incredible,” Adkins said. “I am just so proud and overjoyed for her.”

Brennan said she is confident in Splain’s future based on her character both on and off of the court.

“I know that she will excel in med school and thrive in her professional life too,” Brennan said. “She will be very successful in whatever path life takes her.”