Schedule
Hillsdale (11-5, 8-1 G-MAC) at #11/12 Ashland (16-3, 8-1 G-MAC) | 5:30 p.m. ET Tuesday Jan. 23 | Kates Gymansium | Ashland, OH
Findlay (15-4, 8-2 G-MAC) at Hillsdale (11-5, 8-1 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Saturday, Jan. 25 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
 
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Live Stats, Webcast, Ticket Links
 
Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | Ashland Roster | Findlay Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Ashland Stats | Findlay Stats | G-MAC Standings
 
 
Projected Starters
 
Hillsdale: #3 Lauren McDonald, Sr., G, Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius/Air Force (13.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg. 3.3 apg, 2.1 spg); #15 Kendall McCormick, Sr., G, Hinckley, OH/Highland (9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.1 spg); #21 Savannah Smith, So., F, Liberty Twp., OH/Lakota East (10.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg); #30 Caitlin Splain, Sr., G, Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty (12 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 spg); #40 Emma Ruhlman, Jr., G, Warren, PA/Warren (3.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
 
Ashland: #3 Morgan Yoder, Sr., G, Dundee, OH/Hiland (7.2 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.2 spg);  #10 Lexi Howe, So., G, Zanesville, OH/Tri-Valley (7 ppg, 1 spg); #22 Lydia Sweeney, Sr., G, Buffalo, NY/Grand Island Senior/Cedarville (10.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.7 apg 1.8 spg); #25 Zoe Miller, Sr, F, Berlin, OH/Hiland/Bowling Green (13.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2 apg, 1.1 spg); #33 Hayley Smith, Sr., F, Canton, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas (12 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 spg)
 
Findlay: #1 Taylor Stanley, G, So., Cincinnati, OH/Mt. Notre Dame (4.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg);  #12 Chloe Callahan, Sr., G, Columbus, OH/Hilliard Bradley (7.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg); #13 Janae Hoying, Sr., G, Minster, OH/Minster (8.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.8 spg); #15 Kate Ellis, Sr, G, Perrysburg, OH/Toledo Central Catholic (15.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.5 spg); #44 Alyssa Ziehler, Jr., F, Clinton, OH/Green (9.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.2 spg)
 
 
Scouting the Opposition
 
Ashland: The Eagles find themselves in an unprecedented position in four seasons in the G-MAC – looking up in the standings at another team. Ashland's women's basketball team has never failed to win a conference title during its time in the G-MAC, but has looked more vulnerable this year than in the three previous seasons.

More vulnerable, however, should not be confused a significant drop-off. The Eagles are still a deservedly nationally-ranked team that boasts one of the G-MAC's best offenses (72 ppg), a truly nationally elite defense (50.8 ppg conceded) and an extremely talented roster.

Ashland is powered by its dual-post setup, with Zoe Miller and Hayley Smith leading the team in scoring and providing size and athleticism that few teams in the Midwest have an answer for. They're flanked by a trio of excellent guards – playmaking Cedarville transfer Lydia Sweeney and sharpshooters Morgan Yoder and Ashley Mullet.

A big part of Ashland's recent 10 game winning streak has been the return of sophomore guard Lexi Howe, who's been a stabilizing force for the Eagles and an additional threat for teams to deal with as well.

Ashland still has two meetings to come with the current G-MAC leader, Malone, and will be highly motivated this Thursday to avoid falling behind the Chargers in the standings as well.
 
 
Findlay: The Oilers entered the 2024-25 season highly touted in the G-MAC preseason poll, and have proven to be worthy of the hype so far in a 15-4 start that has them solidly situated in the top four in the G-MAC standings.

Continuity, depth and veteran savvy have been the calling cards for Findlay this year as the Oilers return four of five starters and most of its significant pieces from 2023-24, headlined by one of the G-MAC's top players, senior wing Kate Ellis. Along with Ellis, post Alyssa Ziehler, guard Janae Hoying and wing Chloe Callahan all return and with Ellis make up Findlay's top four in points per game.

Findlay makes full use of its bench, with 13 players averaging nine or more minutes per game. Sophomores Mackenzie Schulz, Addisyn Freeman and Allie Stockton are among the top players on Findlay's second unit.

The Oilers pair a solid offense with one of the G-MAC's top defenses, giving up just 62.5 points per game. It's an important weekend for Findlay in the league title race, as another loss would put the Oilers three behind league leader Malone and two behind the winner of the Hillsdale-Ashland game on Thursday, leaving a tough hill to climb down the stretch.
 
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.
 
The Chargers enter a critical week on an eight-game win streak and as one of the hottest teams in the country. With matchups against two of the other top four teams in the conference this week, Hillsdale could solidify itself as a legitimate title contender with victories.

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

• Hillsdale trails Ashland 24-31 overall in the all-time series, but the Eagles have dominated recently as they've ascended to a national power, with 12 straight wins over the Chargers dating back to Jan. 25, 2014, when Hillsdale pulled out an 82-72 victory. The two programs have a long shared history dating back to the 1988-89 season.
• Befitting a rivalry series, Hillsdale and Findlay have had great clashes over the years since their first meeting in the 1985-86 campaign, with Findlay holding a slight 29-28 edge. The two teams split meetings last year, with Hillsdale winning 73-61 at home and the Oilers taking a 61-57 victory in Findlay.

 
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 eight-game winning streak is Hillsdale's longest since an eight-game winning streak early in the 2018-19 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 13.8 points to lead Hillsdale and rank ninth in the G-MAC through the Chargers' first 16 contests. McDonald also leads the team in rebounds, assists and steals, and ranks in the top 10 in the G-MAC in rebounds per game (10^th), assists per game (4^th) and steals per game (2^nd). 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 40% from 3-point range and averaging 7.9 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 215. 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 33.8% from deep, 44^th best in the nation.
• Senior Kendall McCormick had back-to-back career games to lead Hillsdale to road victories over Cedarville and Northwood on Jan. 11 and 14, scoring a combined 50 points in the two wins and setting and then resetting her career high for points in a single game. 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 16 starts so far this season, and is averaging a solid 10.3 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 6.2 points per game.
• Hillsdale's defense ranks among the top in the G-MAC so far, as the Chargers are conceding just 61.3 points per game, currently fourth in the G-MAC. Teams are shooting just 38.2% from the floor so far against Hillsdale, and 27.4% from 3-point range. The Chargers are also controlling the glass, grabbing 38.8 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 0.95, behind only multi-time defending conference champion Ashland. Hillsdale also is putting together an impressive performance as a team in blocking shots, with 3.31 rejections per game, fourth best in the G-MAC.