Despite strong performances from two senior players and a spirited fourth quarter comeback, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team came up just short in a tough road loss at Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday, 71-68.

Senior Lauren McDonald surpassed 1,000 points for her collegiate career with a 17 point, 12 rebound double-double, and fellow senior Caitlin Splain knocked down five 3-pointers to finish with 20 points and four assists for the Chargers, who trailed for much of the contest and by as many as 11 points in the second half before opening the fourth quarter on a 10-3 run to get back in the game.

Hillsdale pulled ahead late, up 66-65 after a Marilyn Popplewell jumper with 3:11 to play, but a Kentucky Wesleyan 3-pointer at the other end put the Panthers back in front and the Chargers were unable to take the lead again. Hillsdale kept fighting, getting the ball back with a chance to tie down 71-68 with 16 seconds to play, but couldn't get a potential tying 3-pointer to fall in the closing seconds.

Kentucky Wesleyan's 3-point shooting was an issue all game for the Chargers, as the Panthers, who entered the contest shooting 30% from beyond the arc, knocked down 10 3-pointers in the win at a 41.3% clip, including the big one late to go ahead for good. After beating up Kentucky Wesleyan on the boards at home last Saturday in a 77-44 win, Hillsdale also was fought to a 39-38 standstill today, and KWC turned 13 offensive rebounds into 22 critical second-chance points as well. 

Kendall McCormick added nine points for the Chargers, while Ellie Bruce, making her first career start, chipped in six points and Emma Ruhlman finished with five points, seven rebounds and four assists as well. 

Hillsdale (15-7, 12-3 G-MAC) will look to regroup quickly as chaos around the G-MAC on Saturday keeps the Chargers in good position in the league despite the loss, in third place a game behind Malone and a game ahead of Findlay with five conference games remaining, including matchups with both the Pioneers and the Oilers. The Chargers will finish a three-game road swing with a contest at Tiffin on Thursday night before returning home for a key conference contest against Northwood next Saturday.