Box Score

The Charger women's basketball team gave everything it had, but just came up a bit short in a G-MAC classic in Ohio Monday night.

Hillsdale led for much of the first half, trailed by 12 in the fourth quarter, took a late lead, but ended up on the losing end of an 80-75 contest with Cedarville University. The loss makes Hillsdale 9-7 overall and 7-5 in conference play. The team hits the road later this week to face Ohio Valley in West Virginia.

This game didn't feature scorching hot offense or 3-point shooting, but did see two G-MAC contenders play at their very best for different stretches of the game. Cedarville, who gave undefeated and top-ranked Ashland by far its closest game of the season two months ago - losing a 1-point decision at the buzzer - trailed the Chargers by 6 after one quarter, but outscored Hillsdale by a combined 15 points in the middle two quarters to take a 57-48 lead entering the fourth.

After a Yellow Jacket 3-pointer opened the period, Hillsdale stormed back with 9 straight points and the battle was joined once again. Cedarville didn't lead by more than four through much of the quarter, but in the final minute, the Chargers had one last push in them.

Senior Maddy Reed nailed her first 3-point basket of the game to give Hillsdale a 74-73 lead with 26 seconds left to play. But a key sequence unfolded on the next possession, as Cedarville converted a three-point play to take a two-point lead. The Jackets made each of their last four free throws in the waning seconds to hang on for the victory.

Cedarville had several statistical advantages, like making nine 3-point shots compared to Hillsdale's five, and outrebounding the Chargers 39-33. But Hillsdale had its best ballhandling game of the season, committing just 6 turnovers and outscoring Cedarville 20-2 in points off turnovers. 

Three of Hillsdale's most talented offensive players all put together terrific ballgames. Junior Allie Dewire scored 19 points - 1 shy of her season-high - and shot 7-for-13 from the field. Junior Brittany Gray matched Dewire's point total of 19, while junior Makenna Ott scored 18 points with 10 of those coming in the fourth quarter.

The Chargers' 27 fourth-quarter points was the most it has scored in a fourth quarter this season.