Schedule: 
 
Hillsdale (16-8, 13-4 G-MAC) at Findlay (19-7, 12-5 G-MAC) | 5:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Feb. 20 | Croy Gymnasium | Findlay, OH
Ursuline (8-17. 7-10 G-MAC) at Hillsdale (16-8, 13-4 G-MAC) | 1 p.m. ET Saturday, Feb. 22 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
 
Follow/Watch: 
Live Stats, Webcast, Ticket Links
 
 
Additional Info: 
Hillsdale Roster | Findlay Roster | Ursuline Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Ursuline Stats | Northwood Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
 
 
Projected Starters:
 
Hillsdale: #3 Lauren McDonald, Sr., G, Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius/Air Force (14.8 ppg, 7 rpg. 3.3 apg, 2.2 spg); #15 Kendall McCormick, Sr., G, Hinckley, OH/Highland (8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2 apg, 1.2 spg); #24 Ellie Bruce, Fr., C, Lancaster, OH/Fisher Catholic (6.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg); #30 Caitlin Splain, Sr., G, Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty (12.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.4 spg); #40 Emma Ruhlman, Jr., G, Warren, PA/Warren (3.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
 
Findlay: #1 Taylor Stanley, G, So., Cincinnati, OH/Mt. Notre Dame (4.7 ppg, 2 rpg);  #12 Chloe Callahan, Sr., G, Columbus, OH/Hilliard Bradley (7.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg); #13 Janae Hoying, Sr., G, Minster, OH/Minster (8.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.7 spg); #15 Kate Ellis, Sr, G, Perrysburg, OH/Toledo Central Catholic (14.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.2 spg); #44 Alyssa Ziehler, Jr., F, Clinton, OH/Green (11.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.2 spg)
 
Ursuline: #5 Kamryn Dziak, Sr., G, Amherst, OH/Steele/Georgia St. (10.7 ppg, 2 apg, 1.4 spg);  #12 Riley Stopp, Sr, F, Mentor, OH/Cornerstone Christian (12.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.1 apg); #13 Dominique Evans, G, Sr., Macedonia, OH/Nordonia/Lawrence Tech (2.5 ppg, 2 rpg); #24 Madyson Stottsberry, Sr., G, Newark, OH/Newark (10.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.7 spg); #30 Ajia Schreffler, Jr., F, Dover, OH/New Philadelphia (7.1 ppg, 5 rpg)
 
 
 
Scouting the Opposition:   
 
Findlay: The Oilers are in crunch time of the 2024-25 season in a strong position, but in a tight race for a top four spot in the G-MAC and the right to host a quarterfinal, with little separating second through fifth positions and a huge game with the Chargers this Thursday to provide clarity.
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 11 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.
 
Ursuline: The Arrows have battled through a difficult year after the graduation of the Cloonan twins, four-year starters and stalwarts for the Arrows, have left Ursuline in a rebuilding mode. Despite the challenges, however, Ursuline has continued to improve throughout the season, and has fought their way into position to potentially make the G-MAC Tournament down the stretch.
With the Cloonans gone, Ursuline has leaned heavily on two veteran returners with significant starting experience who have seen their roles grow this season in seniors Riley Stopp and Madyson Stottsberry. Also key to the Arrows' efforts are sophomore center Sophia Kline, an imposing post presence, and talented grad transfer Kamryn Dziak, who joined Ursuline from Division I Georgia St. and is averaging double-digit points so far.
Post Ajia Schreffler and Lawrence Tech transfer Dominique Evans also have played significant roles.
The Arrows currently sit in 10th in the G-MAC PRS standings, outside of tournament position, but have three opportunities for marquee wins down the stretch with any one of them potentially catapaulting them into the eighth and final spot.
 
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.
 
With just three games to go, the race for the G-MAC Tourney is tight, with a finish anywhere from second through fifth in play for Hillsdale depending on results. A huge rematch with rival Findlay on the road on Thursday will determine a lot for the Chargers, and Hillsdale's home finale with Ursuline on Saturday also looms large.

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:
 

• After nearly 40 years of meetings, Hillsdale's rivalry series with Findlay sits at a perfectly-balanced 29-29 overall record, reflective of just how tight and competitive the matchups between these two teams have been over that time. Hillsdale has two straight victories in the series, including a thrilling 59-57 win at home on Jan. 25 this season, and has won four of the last five, but the Oilers are 6-4 in the last 10 against Hillsdale.
• The Chargers have won six straight against Ursuline, including a 73-52 victory on the road on Dec. 14, 2024 earlier this season, to take a 10-5 edge in the all-time series. Prior to Hillsdale's six game winning streak, Ursuline had won four straight over the Chargers.

 
 
Other Notes:

• Saturday is the final regular season home game for six Hillsdale College seniors -- Carly Callahan, Ashley Konkle, Lauren McDonald, Kendall McCormick, Marilyn Popplewell and Caitlin Splain -- who have left a huge mark on the program, helping the Chargers ascend the standings in the G-MAC and contend for the program's best finish since 2008-09. Hillsdale will look to send off its six seniors with a victory.
• 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. Currently, Ashland leads the G-MAC standings at 16-1, with Malone in second at 13-3, Hillsdale in third at 13-4 and Findlay in fourth at 12-5.
• Returning All-G-MAC honoree Lauren McDonald is a key player for the Chargers, averaging 14.8 points to lead Hillsdale and rank fifth in the G-MAC through 24 contests. McDonald also leads the team in rebounds, assists and steals, and ranks in the top 10 in the G-MAC in field goal percentage (9^th), free throw percentage (7^th), rebounds per game (6^th), assists per game (2^nd), steals per game (2^nd) and assists to turnover ratio (5^th). She surpassed 1,000 points for her collegiate career on Saturday at Kentucky Wesleyan on Feb. 8 and will play a big role in Hillsdale's performance down the stretch.
• Caitlin Splain stands alone among sharpshooters in Hillsdale College history after this past weekend, as her 239 career 3-pointers following the Feb. 15 game against Northwood exceeds the program's previous all-time made 3-pointer record of 237 set by Chelsea Harrison from 2008 to 2012. It's Splain's second milestone this season, as she also became the 21^st player in Hillsdale College women's basketball history to reach 1,000 points against Cedarville on Jan. 30, and currently ranks 18^th in Chargers history with 1,076 points. As a team Hillsdale is shooting 33.4% from deep, fourth-best in the G-MAC and 42^nd best in the nation.
• 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 41.3% from 3-point range and averaging 7.9 points per game so far.
• 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 at 5.4 per contest.
• 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 12 in 21 starts so far this season, and is averaging a solid 9.8 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 6.8 points per game.
• Senior Marilyn Popplewell is providing a lift off the bench for the Chargers in the past couple of weeks. A four-year starter and two-time All-American for Hillsdale's volleyball program, Popplewell joined the basketball program in December and has showcased her athleticism in her new sport, with a 14-rebound effort at Tiffin on Feb. 13 and nine rebounds against Northwood on Feb. 15. Her energy could be an X-factor for the Chargers down the stretch.
• Hillsdale's defense ranks among the top in the G-MAC so far, as the Chargers are conceding just 60.9 points per game, currently third in the G-MAC. Teams are shooting just 38.7% from the floor so far against Hillsdale, and 28.5% from 3-point range. The Chargers are also controlling the glass, grabbing 39.5 rebounds per game, the most by any team 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 3.33 rejections per game, fifth best in the G-MAC.