Schedule
Hillsdale (9-5, 6-1 G-MAC) at Northwood (7-8, 5-2 G-MAC) | 6 p.m. ET Tuesday Jan. 14 | Riepma Arena | Midland, MI
Walsh (8-8, 3-5 G-MAC) at Hillsdale (9-5, 6-1 G-MAC) | 5:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Jan. 16 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
 
Follow/Watch
Live Stats, Webcast, Ticket Links
 
Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | Northwood Roster | Walsh Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Northwood Stats | Walsh Stats | G-MAC Standings
 
 
Projected Starters
 
Hillsdale: #3 Lauren McDonald, Sr., G, Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius/Air Force (13.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg. 3.2 apg, 2 spg); #15 Kendall McCormick, Sr., G, Hinckley, OH/Highland (8.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.2 spg); #21 Savannah Smith, So., F, Liberty Twp., OH/Lakota East (11.1 ppg, 3 rpg); #30 Caitlin Splain, Sr., G, Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty (12.9 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.2 spg); #40 Emma Ruhlman, Jr., G, Warren, PA/Warren (3.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
 
Northwood: #10 Alexa Kolnitys, Jr., G, Midland, MI/Dow/Davenport (6.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.3 spg);  #13 Maeve St. John, Jr., G, Howell, MI/Howell (14.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.9 apg, 2.7 spg); #22 Lea Holmes, rFr., C, Cleveland, OH/Brunswick (14.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.7 spg, 2.5 bpg); #25 Maddie Voelker, Sr, F, Goodrich, MI/Goodrich (15.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg); #33 Ella Miller, So., C/F, East Lansing, MI/East Lansing (4.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
 
Walsh: #2 Mallory Oddo, G, So., Green, OH/Green (11.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg);  #4 Emma Dretke, Jr., G/F, Massilon, OH/Jackson (7.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.1 bpg); #6 Izzy Callaway, Fr., G, Copley, OH/Copley (14.8 ppg, 2 rpg); #10 Lydia Reimbold, Sr, G, Fort Wayne, IN/Bellarmine U. (2.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg); #12 Sami Kim, So., G, Brunswick, OH/Saint Joseph Academy (6.2 ppg, 2 rpg)

 
Scouting the Opposition
 
Northwood: The Timberwolves have reloaded admirably despite heavy graduation losses from a 20-win team in 2023-24, remaining among the contenders for the G-MAC title seven games into the conference season.

Offensively, Northwood leans heavily on its trio of stars – forward Maddie Voelker, the team's lone returning starter from last season, playmaking guard Maeve St. John, and breakout redshirt freshman post Lea Holmes, who's developed into one of the league's premier interior scoring threat. All three of those players average 14 or more points per game.

In addition to its three-headed scoring threat, Northwood also gets major minutes from center Ella Miller and Davenport transfer Alexa Kolnitys, as well as reserve guards Maelyn McNealy and Lexie Bowers.

Northwood has arguably the biggest win of the 2024-25 season so far, a 69-58 win over three-time defending champion Ashland that was just the Eagles' second-ever G-MAC regular season loss. Their contest with the Chargers is a critical one, as Northwood can't afford to fall too far behind undefeated Malone in the league title race.
 
Walsh: After missing out on the G-MAC Tournament this past season, Walsh looks to be on firmer ground in 2024-25 with new faces reinforcing the roster.
     
Freshman guard Izzy Callaway has given the Cavaliers needed scoring punch in her first season, leading the team in points per game, while sophomore Mallory Oddo has taken a big step forward this season and is also averaging double figures.
     
That added scoring has helped bring balance to a lineup that includes veteran returners Emma Dretke, Sami Kim and Lauren Galaska, and helped Walsh overcome an injury to its 2023-24 leading scorer, Kiley Dyrlund, that's seen her miss 14 of the team's 16 games so far.

Another freshman, Gracie Rakosky, and Bellarmine tranfer Lydia Reimbold have gotten plenty of minutes as well so far as Walsh has made use of a deep bench throughout the season.

The Cavaliers are in the hunt for a G-MAC Tourney spot but at 3-5 will need to keep finding victories to stay in the race. Walsh has a decent defense to build off of but will be looking for more offense to help the team get over the hump and get back to the postseason.
 
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.
 
Hillsdale continues to stack victories in the new year, including a critical road win at Cedarville that has helped the Chargers stick in the top four and get separation from the chasing pack. The Chargers get another road/home split this week, looking to stay in title contention.

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 Sularski 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.
 
Head Coach Brianna Brennan returns for her second season, along with both assistants Abbey McNeil and Morgan Galloway.
 
Matchup History

• Northwood and Hillsdale have a long history dating back to their shared membership as founding members in the GLIAC, and the Timberwolves hold a 37-25 series lead in a matchup that dates back to the 70s. Northwood has won three straight over Hillsdale, including both meetings last season.
• Hillsdale is 9-13 all-time against Walsh in a series that dates back to 2006, but won the most recent meeting on a last-second buzzer beater 51-49 at Walsh on Feb. 8, 2024. That victory snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Cavaliers.

 
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.
• The Chargers' current six-game winning streak is Hillsdale's longest since a six-game winning streak early in the 2021-22 season. Hillsdale has a chance this week at eight-straight wins, which would be the most since 2018-19. The all-time record winning streak for a women's basketball team at Hillsdale is 12 straight victories to open the 2004-05 season.
• Returning All-G-MAC honoree Lauren McDonald is a key player for the Chargers, averaging 13.3 points to lead Hillsdale and rank 10^th in the G-MAC through the Chargers' first 14 contests. McDonald also leads the team in rebounds, assists and steals, and ranks in the top 10 in the G-MAC in assists per game (4^th) and steals per game (3^rd). 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.
• Sophomore Annalise Pietrzyk was key to Hillsdale's stunning upset of Ferris State on Dec. 16, scoring a career-high 19 points in a 76-61 victory. Her play helped her earn G-MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week honors, her first in her career at Hillsdale and the team's first in the 2024-25 season. The sophomore is developing into a key two-way contributor for the Chargers off the bench, shooting an impressive 38.9% from 3-point range and averaging seven points per game so far.
• Hillsdale has a number of sharpshooters from deep, headlined by senior Caitlin Splain, who currently sits fourth all-time in program history in made 3-pointers with 213. Splain has a 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 as well for the Chargers and can provide range. As a team Hillsdale is shooting 34.3% from deep, 36^th best in the nation.
• Senior Kendall McCormick had a career game to lead the Chargers to victory at Cedarville on Jan. 11, scoring a collegiate best 23 points and adding eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. A key defensive stopper for multiple years for Hillsdale, McCormick has showcased an improved offensive game this season and has been one of the Chargers' top rebounders.
• 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 10 in 14 starts so far this season, and is averaging a solid 11.1 points per game. She's forming a strong post tandem with freshman Ellie Bruce, who's been an instant contributor off the bench for the Chargers as well with 6.1 points per game.
• Hillsdale's defense ranks among the top in the G-MAC so far, as the Chargers are conceding just 60.6 points per game, currently third in the G-MAC. Teams are shooting just 37.5% from the floor so far against Hillsdale, and 25.9% from 3-point range. The Chargers are also controlling the glass, grabbing 38.4 rebounds per game, second most in the G-MAC.
• The Chargers have become more efficient as the season has worn on, and now boast the G-MAC's second-best assist-to-turnover ratio at 0.97, behind only multi-time defending conference champion Ashland. Hillsdale also is putting together an impressive performance as a team in blocking shots, with 3.21 rejections per game, fifth best in the G-MAC.