The Hillsdale College women’s basketball team defeated Tiffin University by 20 points on Thursday, Jan. 16.
The Chargers’ previous three wins all came down to the last two minutes of the game, winning each by less than five points.
But against Tiffin the Chargers took the lead in the beginning of the game and never lost steam.
“We made that game ours from the start,” head coach Claudette Charney said.
It was their best game of the season, junior Brooke Borowski said.
Then On Saturday, Jan. 19, Hillsdale lost 56-75 to Ohio Dominican University.
“Saturday was the complete opposite,” Charney said. “I have no idea why.”
Charney said Hillsdale had an alright first half, which ended with Hillsdale down by only five points, but struggled offensively and defensively in the second half.
“We were out-rebounded,” Charney said. “That doesn’t happen.”
Charney said Hillsdale had played four or five good games before the loss to Ohio Dominican.
During the semester break, Hillsdale played six basketball games, winning two and losing four.
“We were definitely looking to win all of them – we didn’t meet that,” sophomore Kayla Geffert said. “But we got ourselves in a good position to qualify for the tournament in March.”
Hillsdale began the new year with a loss to Grand Valley State University, but followed it up with an important win at Ferris State University.
Even though Hillsdale ended the first half ahead of Ferris by 10 points, they fell behind in the second half, and didn’t take the final lead until the last 36 seconds of the game.
“It sparked a winning streak for us,” Borowski said.
After the win against Ferris State, Hillsdale lost by three points to nationally-ranked Wayne State University (20), which has two Division I transfer students.
“It came down to the wire,” Charney said. “We didn’t score on the last possession and lost 88-85.”
Hillsdale finished off the break with a home win against Saginaw Valley State University.
“It was a really big game,” Charney said. “It didn’t start off well, but they played phenomenally the second half and won with a minute left.”
Geffert said that the win against Saginaw Valley put the team in a good position to win against Tiffin.
“From Grand Valley to Saginaw we really improved a lot as a team,” Geffert said.
The Chargers have struggled through several season-ending injuries this season.
“We have not been very lucky,” Charney said. “It’s been one thing after another.”
Senior Marissa DeMott is out with an ACL injury. Redshirt sophomore Abbey Lovat is out for the season with a meniscus tear, but is undergoing rehab to come back next season. Borowski broke her leg going for a rebound in practice on Jan. 6, but hopes to come back in February. Becca Scherting has been out for a partially torn meniscus, but Borowski said she should be back in a week or so.
“There are usually quite a few injuries,” Borowski said, “but this year we are a little more unfortunate.”
Tonight, Hillsdale continues playing South Division opponents, this time Lake Erie College. The game is at home at 6 p.m.
Saturday, the Chargers play Ashland University, also at home.
“Playing all the North teams really prepared us for the South, which is really competitive,” Geffert said. “We are really pumped.”
