The Hillsdale Women’s basketball team lost two tough battles this week to the Malone University Pioneers and the Walsh University Cavaliers, dropping them into a close race for the sixth spot in the G-MAC standings.
The G-MAC basketball regulations have changed in recent years and only the top six teams in the conference will get a chance to compete in the playoffs. The Chargers currently sit tied for the seventh spot with Tiffin University.
The Chargers first game this week was against the Pioneers on Thursday. Despite winning the first and second quarters with a double digits lead, the team fell short in the end, losing 71-62.
“Typically, our starts are not as good as we would like them to be, and then usually we can finish strong,” junior forward Arianna Sysum said. “This time it was the opposite, and we didn’t have the finish we usually have.”
Sysum earned the team five rebounds and nine points. Her and junior forward Sydney Mills led the Chargers in blocks, each with two.
“Sydney is always huge for us on the boards,” Sysum said. “I also think Peighton played great. Her game has improved tremendously over this season. She’s going to continue to become more and more of an essential asset for us.”
Freshman guard Peighton Nelson led the Chargers with a career-high of 16 points. She was followed by senior guard Grace Touchette with 15, and Mills with 12.
“We had quite a few offensive fouls called on us, and I think when that happened, things started going downhill,” senior guard Lauren Daffenberg said. “That just kind of got to us. We also weren’t really making our outside shots or very many shots when it counted.”
Two days later, the Chargers lost to the Cavaliers 95-68, who currently sit at second in the conference, in the midst of a 13-game winning streak.
“Walsh is a very good team, they’re led by almost all seniors,” Sysum said. “While we have a ton of talent, I don’t think we have the same amount of experience as them. And ultimately, I think that’s what got us in the end.”
The Chargers performance was split between more experienced upperclassmen and freshmen. Mills led the team with 19 points and 12 rebounds, earning her 10th double double of the season. She was followed by Nelson with 16 points, and Daffenberg with 11.
“We ended up winning the third quarter,” Daffenberg said. “I think that game helped a lot with our offense. It was just running a lot better than what we had shown at Malone.”
The Chargers won the third quarter 18-16.
The team was also able to play eight players off the bench, with freshmen forward Carly Callahan scoring seven points and freshman guard Dani Salenbien collecting three points, three assists, and four rebounds.
“When they do come off the bench, they know exactly what they need to do,” Assistant Coach Brianna Brennan said. “I think both Dani and Carly really gave their all-out effort against Walsh, especially Dani on defense.”
The team is hopeful for the weeks to come, and believe they can qualify for the G-MAC tournament over the next four games.
“I think it’ll be a good stretch of games to just get some confidence back, get some wins,” Daffenberg said. “Obviously we need the wins to be able to make it into the tournament. We’ll finish with one more game against Ashland, and that’ll be a good test going into the tournament.”
Ashland is seated first in the G-MAC, with a perfect record of 17-0.
“We’re super excited to get the chance to play these next four games on our home floor,” Brennan said. “We were able to beat Lake Erie and Ursuline on the road, so it’ll be fun to play them again. Hopefully we can make the conference tournament.”
The Chargers stay at home this week, taking on the Ursuline College Arrows on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m. before Senior Day against Lake Erie College Storm on Saturday Feb. 19 at 1:00 p.m.
