Junior Annalise Pietrzyk takes up a shot through a sea of Kentucky Wesleyan players on the way to a 61-59 victory. Courtesy | Ashley Van Hoose

Junior Savannah Smith scored a last-second layup to lift the Hillsdale women’s basketball team over Kentucky Wesleyan College 61-59 at home Feb. 19. 

“Savannah Smith made an incredibly strong bucket to secure the win, but it took all five on the floor,” head coach Brianna Brennan said. “Our guards dribbled out the clock against very aggressive ball pressure. Sophomore Maggie Sularski delivered the first clean pass to sophomore Sarah Aleknavicius, Sarah delivered another beautiful pass to Savannah, and Savannah truly set the cut up perfectly to get herself set in scoring position.”

The Chargers played a second game, losing to Ohio Dominican University 81-69 on the road Feb. 19. The Chargers’ record moved to 14-10 overall and 10-8 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play as Hillsdale enters the last week of the regular season sixth in the G-MAC standings. The top eight teams will advance to the G-MAC tournament at the end of the regular season.

Against the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers, the Chargers led 31-15 at halftime, but the Panthers battled back to tie the game 59-59 with 1:07 remaining. Following a defensive stop, the Chargers executed a play out of a timeout to score the deciding basket with less than two seconds remaining. 

“Even though it wasn’t my best game statistically, I kept telling myself that my open looks would come to me and to not force anything and remain composed,” Smith said. “Keeping a cool composure the whole game allowed me to score my shot when it mattered at the end.” 

Sophomore Ellie Bruce led the Chargers with 15 points on 7-9 shooting and seven rebounds. Aleknavicius added 13 points. 

In addition to holding the Panthers to just 15 points in the first half, Hillsdale only allowed Kentucky Wesleyan to shoot 23% from 3-point range.

“We played the best game of team defense we have of the season,” Aleknavicius said. “In the first half specifically we did a very impressive job of never leaving one of our teammates on an island.” 

Against Ohio Dominican University, the Chargers trailed by 11 points at halftime and were unable to come back in the second half.

Smith led Hillsdale with 22 points and seven rebounds. Junior Annalise Pietrzyk added 19 points and five assists. 

The Chargers are playing their final two regular-season games at home this week, where they have not lost this season. Hillsdale needs just one win to clinch a spot in the G-MAC conference tournament.

“We’ve got to play with great urgency and intensity,” Brennan said. “We love playing at Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena, and we are so grateful for all the support each game.”

Hillsdale plays Findlay University Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. and G-MAC regular-season champions Northwood University Feb. 28 at 1 p.m., when the team will honor Payton Adkins and Emma Ruhlman for Senior Day.

“Payton and Emma have drastically impacted our program, so I know the team will be ready to battle for them to get a win on Senior Day,” Brennan said.