Schedule
Ohio Dominican (3-3, 0-0 G-MAC) at Hillsdale (2-4, 0-0 G-MAC) | 5:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 5 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
Malone (5-2, 0-0 G-MAC) at Hillsdale (2-4, 0-0 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 7 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
 
Follow/Watch
Live Stats, Webcast, Ticket Links
 
 
Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | ODU Roster | Malone Roster | Hillsdale Stats | ODU Stats | Malone Stats | G-MAC Standings
 
 
Players to Watch
 
Hillsdale:  #3 Lauren McDonald, Sr., G, Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius/Air Force (14.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg. 2.8 apg, 1.7 spg); #5 Sarah Aleknavicius, Fr.,G/F, Grafton, WI/Grafton (2.8 ppg); #15 Kendall McCormick, Sr., G, Hinckley, OH/Highland (7.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2 apg, 1.5 spg); #21 Savannah Smith, So., F, Liberty Twp., OH/Lakota East (11.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1 bpg); #30 Caitlin Splain, Sr., G, Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty (13.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg, 1 spg)
 
ODU: #2 Jenna Shackleford, F, So., Newark, OH/Newark (10.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg);  #3 Brynn Mullet, Sr., G, Berlin, OH/Hiland (15 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 spg); #13 Meghan Mayotte, So., F, Columbus, OH/Worthington Christian (3.8 ppg); #22 Gabby Stare, Gr, G, Newark, OH/Newark (14.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2 apg, 1.2 spg); #30 Sarah Ochs, Jr., G, Beavercreek, OH/Carroll (11.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.8 apg)
 
Malone: #4 Nataley Armstrong, G, Jr., Garrett, IN/Garrett (6.5 ppg, 4.7 apg, 1.7 spg);  #22 Kyli Horn, Sr., G, Millersburg, OH/Berlin Hiland (5.1 ppg); #23 Brinn Hunt, Jr., G/F, Perrysburg, OH/Toledo Central Catholic (8.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg); #25 Brooklyn Troyer, Sr, G, Apple Creek, OH/Waynedale (11 ppg, 3.1 rpg); #33 Erin Kaufman, Jr., C, Glandorf, OH/Ottawa-Glandorf (18.3 ppg, 8 rpg, 2.3 spg)
 
 
Scouting the Opposition:  
 
ODU: New head coach Brianna Sims has been tasked with turning around a once-proud program that's sunk into the G-MAC basement over the last few seasons. So far, ODU is off to its best start since its last winning season at 3-3, including a stunning upset of nationally-ranked Gannon.

The Panthers are built around do-everything wing Gabby Stare, the team's leading scorer for the last three seasons who returned for a fifth year in 2024-25, and Stare continues to be a key component in her final season. But it's the rise in Stare's supporting cast that has ODU feeling like it's on the upswing. Guard Brynn Mullet is having a breakout season after three years as a bit player for the Panthers, while returnees Sarah Ochs and Jenna Shackleford are each averaging double-figures in points and career highs across the board as well.

With a strong core built, the Panthers are looking to add more scoring punch, leaning on a veteran bench to step up and add more to the team's offense to help it navigate a rugged G-MAC schedule.

Sims comes to ODU after five seasons as the head coach at the University of Dallas, helping turn around the Division III program. Sims also spent time as an assistant at Hendrix and Bluffton following a playing career at NCAA DII UMass-Lowell on the east coast.
 
Malone: In the shadow of national power Ashland, Malone has quietly impressed over the last seven years under head coach Selana Ickes, turning out a G-MAC Tourney team and a contender to make the NCAAs virtually every season during that stretch.

2024-25 could be a big year for the Pioneers, who return their top seven minutes-getters from last season's winning squad. They're off to a 5-2 start with their only losses coming to teams receiving votes in the WBCA poll. Leading the way is junior center Erin Kaufman, a skilled 6-foot-1 post presence and returning first-team All-G-MAC honoree who's having her best season statistically by a significant margin so far this year.

Malone surrounds Kaufman with an outstanding stable of guards, led by sharpshooter Brooklyn Troyer, who's hitting 45.9% of her 3-point attempts so far this season. Brinn Hunt, Kyli Horn and Nataley Armstrong all play big roles as well, while freshman Abbey Price is getting solid early minutes and Aila Miller is a capable substitute in the post for when Kaufman sits, averaging eight points per game off the bench.

The Pioneers were picked to finish second behind Ashland in the G-MAC preseason poll, and will be aiming for a fast start to conference play this weekend.
 
Scouting Hillsdale
 
Coming off the best regular-season conference finish in over a decade, and with a significant chunk of talent returning, hopes are high that the rise can continue for the Hillsdale College women's basketball program in 2024-25.

Seven of Hillsdale's top eight minutes-getters return from a squad that went 17-12 and had Hillsdale's first top four conference finish since 2008-09 last season, including six players who started six or more games.

Leading the way is senior combo guard Lauren McDonald, who exploded with a stellar all-around season in 2023-24 that saw her receive second-team All-G-MAC honors. McDonald can play and defend multiple positions and is an elite three-level scorer as well as an above-average rebounder for her height.

The Chargers can surround McDonald with a veteran supporting cast, including defensive pest Kendall McCormick and proven sharpshooter Caitlin Splain on the wings.

Hillsdale has one huge hole to fill in the starting lineup with the graduation of forward Sydney Mills, the program's all-time leading rebounder. Replacing her production will be a team effort – starting with larger roles for a variety of second year players who impressed in 2023-24.

Wings Sydney Pnacek and Annalise Pietrzyk both spent time in the starting lineup for Hillsdale in their first season on the floor for the Chargers, with both becoming important parts of the rotation and making critical offensive contributions down the stretch. Along with those two, fellow sophomore Savannah Smith, an athletic post player who received more playing time late in the year, also will compete for more minutes and could shine in an expanded role. Juniors Payton Adkins and Emma Ruhlman also could crack the rotation more consistently with another year of experience under their belts.

Hillsdale expects the rotation to be shaken up by a strong incoming freshman class that includes twin sisters Emilia and Magdalena Sularski, who starred at a high level in Illinois high school basketball with Benet Academy, gifted and versatile wing Sarah Aleknavicius, and a strong 6-foot-2 post presence in Ellie Bruce. While none is guaranteed to be part of the rotation given the amount of experience returning, all four have the skill level to make an impact if they quickly adjust to the college game.
 
Head Coach Brianna Brennan returns for her second season, along with both assistants Abbey McNeil and Morgan Galloway.
 
Matchup History

Hillsdale first played both of its opponents this weekend a little over a decade ago, and hold narrow leads in competitive series with both. The Chargers are 14-11 all-time against Ohio Dominican, breaking an 11-11 deadlock with three straight wins, including a dominant home victory and an overtime road win to sweep the Panthers in 2023-24. Hillsdale also holds a 10-9 lead over Malone after splitting the season series the last two seasons. The Chargers won their most recent contest against the Pioneers in an overtime thriller at home last January.
 
 
Other Notes

• The Chargers were picked to finish tied for fourth with Kentucky Wesleyan in the 2024-25 G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll after tying for fourth place in the conference race in 2023-24. Defending champion Ashland was picked to repeat as conference title-winner, while Malone was selected to finish second and Findlay was picked to take third.
• Returning All-G-MAC honoree Lauren McDonald is a key player for the Chargers, averaging 14.7 points to lead Hillsdale through its first six contests. McDonald is shooting a strong .522 from the floor so far, impressive for a guard, and also leads the team in assists and steals while ranking second in rebounds. The Chicago native enters following a 2023-24 campaign where she led Hillsdale in scoring and assists and was second on the team in rebounds, steals and blocked shots while making clutch baskets in overtime victories over Malone and Ohio Dominican.
• Hillsdale has a number of sharpshooters from deep, headlined by senior Caitlin Splain, who currently sits in sixth all-time in program history in made 3-pointers with 192 after knocking down another three this past Saturday at Lewis. Splain has a real shot of challenging the program's all-time made 3-pointer record of 237 set by Chelsea Harrison from 2008-2012 if she can stay healthy and maintain her career-average clip. While they're not on a record-setting pace, sophomores Annalise Pietrzyk and Savannah Smith both shot above .350 from deep last year.
• Senior Kendall McCormick was a revelation for the Chargers defensively last season, showing improved offensive game while serving as one of the best on-ball defenders in the G-MAC with an average of two steals per contest, and she opened the 2024-25 season with nine steals in six games to stay on the same pace so far this season, while also grabbing an impressive 6.3 rebounds per game to lead Hillsdale so far.
• Sophomore Savannah Smith is making the leap this season after coming off the bench her first year in 2023-24. Smith has already more than doubled her total of double-digit scoring games with five in six starts so far this season, and is averaging a solid 11.5 points per game. Her scoring punch will be critical for the Chargers as conference play starts.
• Hillsdale's defense ranks among the top in the G-MAC so far, as the Chargers are conceding just 63.7 points per game, currently fifth in the G-MAC but just two points per game out of third place against a tough schedule. The Chargers are getting the job done by forcing turnovers and dominating the defensive glass, limiting opposing teams' second chances. Hillsdale averages 35.5 rebounds per game and will look to continue that performance on the glass as G-MAC play starts this week.