The Hillsdale College women's basketball team made a huge fourth quarter comeback in its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018, but the Chargers ran out of time just a moment too soon.

Hillsdale twice cut the deficit to a single possession with under 90 seconds to go but couldn't get the stop it needed in a 61-56 loss to third-seeded Northern Michigan in a Midwest Regional Quarterfinal contest on Friday at Grand Valley State University.

The Chargers trailed by as many as 13 points early in the fourth quarter after going cold offensively in the second and third, but rallied thanks to a combined 16 points from seniors Kendall McCormick and Lauren McDonald in the final quarter. McCormick hit a massive 3-pointer with 1:11 to play, assisted by McDonald, to cut the deficit to 56-53 with 1:11 to go, and, after Northern Michigan got three points at the other end, McDonald knocked down another 3-pointer off an offensive rebound by Ellie Bruce to give Hillsdale hope with nine seconds to go and facing a 59-56 deficit. 

But the Wildcats didn't blink at the free throw line, making both to eliminate Hillsdale's ability to tie the game on one shot, and there wasn't enough time left for the Chargers to close the gap.

Hillsdale came out of the gates firing, knocking down five 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a 19-18 lead into the second. As the Chargers cooled off, however, they struggled to keep pace with Northern Michigan, who outscored the Chargers 13-6 in the second quarter and 15-9 in the third. Hillsdale refused to give up, however, with a senior-led push at the end to nearly pull the upset.

McDonald just missed a double-double in her final game in a Hillsdale uniform, finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a career-high six steals, while McCormick also went out swinging for the Chargers, with 15 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Junior Emma Ruhlman chipped in 10 points and six rebounds for Hillsdale, which finishes the season 21-10 with their first 20-win campaign since 2008-09.

Leading the Chargers to their best season in over a decade was Hillsdale's six-player senior class, and especially the Chargers' three senior starters -- McDonald, McCormick and guard Caitlin Splain, all multi-year contributors who left a massive mark on Hillsdale's program. Both McCormick and Splain began their careers as walk-ons, but leave Hillsdale as two of the most accomplished players in program history, with memorable performances throughout their careers that will not soon be forgotten. McDonald, meanwhile, helped transform the program in two and a half seasons after transferring in from the Air Force Academy. All three, along with fellow seniors Marilyn Popplewell, Carly Callahan and Ashley Konkle, will be dearly missed, but leave an amazing foundation for Charger teams that follow to build on.

Hillsdale will look to do just that next season, with starters Ellie Bruce, Savannah Smith and Ruhlman returning, as well as key bench contributors in Annalise Pietrzyk and Sarah Aleknavicius, and other talented young players. The future looks bright for the Chargers, who add an extremely talented recruiting class to their returning group and will look to make another run next season.

Photo by Emma Purdy