The Hillsdale College women's basketball team hung with a 2021 NCAA Division II Tournament for nearly 35 minutes on Saturday evening, but couldn't close the deal in the final five minutes of a 79-70 loss to host Northwood.
The Chargers fell behind early in the first quarter but rallied to take a 39-38 lead on a transition layup by Arianna Sysum early in the third, and from there the game was back and forth. The Chargers were within one point, 60-59, with 5:36 to play, but were outscored 19-11 the rest of the way as an experienced Timberwolf lineup made shots and enough free throws down the stretch to keep Hillsdale at bay.
Hillsdale got a huge game off the bench from freshman guard Caitlin Splain, who knocked down seven 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 21 points to help the Chargers keep pace with Northwood. It's an impressive debut for Splain, who came to Hillsdale with a reputation as a sharpshooter from her high school days, but had to battle through a leg injury suffered earlier in the week in her stellar Saturday performance.
Sysum also came up big for the Chargers with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals on the night, and senior Grace Touchette added 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks as well for her second-straight double-figure performance.
Junior Sydney Mills also did work on the glass for the Chargers with 17 rebounds, as well as five points, and freshman Carly Callahan chipped in seven points off the bench.
The Chargers used 13 made 3-pointers to keep pace with Northwood, but couldn't overcome a 22-7 edge in made free throws, and also turned the ball over 17 times to the Timberwolves' 10 in the contest.
Hillsdale (0-2) has a long trip and more tough tests ahead next week, as the Chargers travel to Anchorage, Alaska to face the fifth-ranked host Seawolves as well as Alaska Fairbanks on Nov. 19 and 20.
Photo by Anthony Lupi '22