Another strong fourth quarter helped the Hillsdale College women's basketball team take down visiting Ursuline 74-60 and move a step closer to their best conference finish in 15 years.

It was a happy senior day for the Chargers, who celebrated their six graduating seniors by outscoring the Arrows 23-15 in the fourth quarter to pull away.

Hillsdale knocked down three 3-pointers in the final period to get separation from a desperate Ursuline squad that cut the Chargers' lead to as few as four points in the third quarter and trailed by just six points entering the fourth. Senior Caitlin Splain opened up the fourth with a 3-pointer and an Ellie Bruce layup after a Chargers defensive stop gave Hillsdale a double-digit lead and reestablished control. 

Annalise Pietrzyk added another 3-pointer shortly after and freshman Sarah Aleknavicius converted two important layups to end Ursuline's last real push at the Chargers' lead and create a comfortable edge that Hillsdale could coast home with.

Pietrzyk had been critical to Hillsdale establishing an early lead in the game, hitting her first five shots, including four 3-pointers, to help Hillsdale lead by as many as 13 in the second quarter and take a nine point edge into halftime. The Chargers never trailed in the contest, and Pietrzyk tied for the team lead with 17 points and four assists.

Splain added 17 points and six rebounds of her own in a strong performance, while senior Marilyn Popplewell had one of her best games of the season with 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the floor and six rebounds. Lauren McDonald, also a senior for the Chargers, nearly had a double-double with 11 points, eight assists, five rebounds and two steals and played a vital role in running Hillsdale's offense.

Bench scoring proved to be key as Hillsdale got 35 points from its reserves, headlined by Pietrzyk and Popplewell. The Chargers also were once again elite defensively when it counted, holding the Arrows to just 37.1% shooting from the floor and 4 of 16 from 3-point range. 

The victory gives Hillsdale's seniors -- Splain, McDonald, Popplewell, Kendall McCormick, Carly Callahan and Ashley Konkle -- a chance to author a truly special finish on their way out. Hillsdale now sits at 18-8 overall and in second place in the G-MAC at 15-4, a half-game ahead of Malone. The Chargers finish the regular season with a trip to the Pioneers on March 1, and a victory there would lock up Hillsdale's best regular season finish since the Chargers won the GLIAC South Division title and tied for the best record in the conference in 2008-09.

No matter what happens, Hillsdale is guaranteed to host a G-MAC Tournament quarterfinal game, the program's first home postseason game since that 2009 season. The Chargers will host that contest on Tuesday, March 4 with a time and opponent to be determined.

Photo by Emma Purdy