Schedule
SF1: #4 Northwood (18-11, 15-5 G-MAC) at #1 Ashland (28-3, 19-1 G-MAC) | 5:30 p.m. ET Friday, March 7 | Kates Gymnasium | Ashland, OH
SF2: #3 Malone (22-7, 15-5 G-MAC) vs #2 Hillsdale (20-8, 16-4 G-MAC) | 7:30 p.m. ET Friday, March 7 | Kates Gymnasium | Ashland, OH
F: SF1 Winner vs SF2 Winner | 3 p.m. ET Saturday, March 8 | Kates Gymnasium | Ashland, OH
 
Follow/Watch
Live Stats, Webcast, Ticket Links | Tournament Central
 
 
Additional Info 
Hillsdale Roster | Malone Roster | Ashland Roster | Northwood Roster | Hillsdale Stats | Malone Stats | Ashland Stats | Northwood Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
 
 
Projected Starters
 
#2 Hillsdale: #3 Lauren McDonald, Sr., G, Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius/Air Force (14.9 ppg, 7 rpg. 3.6 apg, 2 spg); #15 Kendall McCormick, Sr., G, Hinckley, OH/Highland (8.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2 apg, 1.3 spg); #24 Ellie Bruce, Fr., C, Lancaster, OH/Fisher Catholic (7.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg); #30 Caitlin Splain, Sr., G, Powell, OH/Olentangy Liberty (13.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.3 spg); #40 Emma Ruhlman, Jr., G, Warren, PA/Warren (4.1 ppg, 3 rpg)
 
#3 Malone: #4 Nataley Armstrong, G, Jr., Garrett, IN/Garrett (3.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.1 spg);  #22 Kyli Horn, Sr., G, Millersburg, OH/Berlin Hiland (7.8 ppg); #23 Brinn Hunt, Jr., G/F, Perrysburg, OH/Toledo Central Catholic (6.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg); #25 Brooklyn Troyer, Sr, G, Apple Creek, OH/Waynedale (9.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1 spg); #33 Erin Kaufman, Jr., C, Glandorf, OH/Ottawa-Glandorf (16.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.6 spg)
 
#1 Ashland: #1 Ashley Mullet, Fr., G, Berlin, OH/Hiland (7 ppg, 2.3 apg); #3 Morgan Yoder, Sr., G, Dundee, OH/Hiland (7.1 ppg, 3.3 apg, 1 spg); #22 Lydia Sweeney, Sr., G, Buffalo, NY/Grand Island Senior/Cedarville (9.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg 1.5 spg); #25 Zoe Miller, Sr, F, Berlin, OH/Hiland/Bowling Green (14.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 spg); #33 Hayley Smith, Sr., F, Canton, OH/St. Thomas Aquinas (12.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg)
 
#4 Northwood: #4 Maelyn McNealy rFr., G, Scottsdale, AZ/Farragut/Coastal Carolina (5.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg);  #13 Maeve St. John, Jr., G, Howell, MI/Howell (14.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.9 apg, 2.6 spg); #22 Lea Holmes, rFr., C, Cleveland, OH/Brunswick (16 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.1 spg, 2.4 bpg); #25 Maddie Voelker, Sr, F, Goodrich, MI/Goodrich (13.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg); #33 Ella Miller, So., C/F, East Lansing, MI/East Lansing (7.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
 
 
Scouting the Opposition   
 
#3 Malone: Friday's second semifinal carries with it the energy of an immediate rematch between two top teams, as less than a week ago the Chargers beat Malone 68-61 in an emotional road game to take the two seed in the G-MAC and drop Malone to the three seed. That makes this Friday's game a potential revenge game for the Pioneers, and the fact that both teams are in the hunt for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament adds to the stakes as well.

Despite the loss to the Chargers, Malone is having one of its best seasons in school history, with 22 wins so far. Leading the way is junior center Erin Kaufman, a skilled 6-foot-1 post presence and returning first-team All-G-MAC honoree who's having her best season statistically by a significant margin so far this year, and could be the G-MAC Player of the Year at season's end.

Malone surrounds Kaufman with an outstanding stable of guards, led by sharpshooter Brooklyn Troyer, who's hit 57 3-point attempts at a 40% clip so far this season. Brinn Hunt, Kyli Horn and Nataley Armstrong all play big roles as well, while freshman Abbey Price is getting solid early minutes and Aila Miller is a capable substitute in the post for when Kaufman sits, averaging 7.3 points per game off the bench.
 
#1 Ashland: The three-time defending tournament champion Eagles enter this year's G-MAC Tourney in a familiar position as the top seed, host and heavy favorite to win the title. But Ashland doesn't look quite as invincible as in the past three years, with a few close calls and the Eagles' first regular season conference loss in a couple of seasons, to the team it'll meet in the semifinals, Northwood.

More vulnerable, however, should not be confused with a significant drop-off. The Eagles are still a deservedly nationally-ranked team that boasts one of the G-MAC's best offenses (70.5 ppg), a truly nationally elite defense (49.7 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.

While Ashland still put up a 19-1 G-MAC record behind a truly dominant defense, they haven't dominated in the same way offensively as in past years, and are facing off against a Timberwolves team that's also extremely dangerous offensively, as shown in their 68-59 win over the Eagles on Dec. 5. It'll be the first big postseason test for an Ashland team with big goals still ahead.
 
#4 Northwood: After winning a big showdown against Findlay on Tuesday, the Timberwolves will look to keep their season going and push for the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament given to the G-MAC Champion with a matchup against top-seeded Ashland on Friday. Northwood will try to recapture the magic of a shocking 68-59 upset of the Eagles on Dec. 5, Ashland's lone G-MAC loss this season.

Offensively, Northwood is one of the top teams in the conference and leans heavily on its trio of stars – forward Maddie Voelker, the team's lone returning starter from last season, playmaking guard Maeve St. John, and breakout redshirt freshman post Lea Holmes, who's developed into one of the league's premier interior scoring threat. All three of those players average 14 or more points per game.

In addition to its three-headed scoring threat, Northwood also gets major minutes from center Ella Miller and guards Maelyn McNealy and Lexie Bowers.

The only thing that's held Northwood back from being a true title contender this season is inconsistent defensive play. If the Timberwolves are locked in at that end of the court on Friday, they'll have a real chance of proving that Dec. 5 win was not a fluke.
 
 
Scouting Hillsdale 
 
Coming off the best regular-season conference finish in over a decade, and with a significant chunk of talent returning, hopes were high that a multi-season rise could continue for the Hillsdale College women's basketball program in 2024-25.
 
On Saturday, Hillsdale turned those hopes into reality with a 68-61 win at Malone that secured the Chargers' best regular-season record and first runner-up finish in conference play since 2008-09 season. Hillsdale added to that with its first playoff victory since 2019 in an 81-66 win over Cedarville, and are now looking to move closer to a potential NCAA Tourney berth with a semifinal matchup on Friday.

Seven of Hillsdale's top eight minutes-getters return from a squad that went 17-12 and tied for fourth in the G-MAC 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 broke a 10-10 tie with Malone in the all-time series between the two teams with a 68-61 victory last Saturday in the regular season finale, splitting the season series between the two teams. The Chargers have a 3-2 edge in the last five games, with Hillsdale earning an overtime win over the Pioneers at home, 71-61, last season on Jan. 17, 2024 and Malone taking the first meeting of the 2024-25 season 68-52 on Dec. 7, 2024. This will be the first postseason meeting between the two teams.

 
Other Notes

• The Chargers are playing in their third G-MAC Tournament in a row, and fifth in eight seasons as a member, with a 5-3 record in five trips. Hillsdale won the G-MAC Tournament title in 2018 and reached the semifinal round in 2019, and broke a five season drought with a playoff victory on Tuesday over Cedarville. Before becoming a G-MAC member, Hillsdale was 11-12 in 14 trips to the GLIAC Tournament, with titles in 2002 and 2009.
• Ashland is a three-time defending champion in the G-MAC and has yet to lose a postseason game since joining the conference in 2021. This is Malone's seventh-straight G-MAC Tourney appearance but the Pioneers are looking to break through to a finals appearance for the first time after making the semis each of the past two seasons. Northwood, in its third year in the G-MAC, made the tournament each of the past two years but is playing in the semifinal round for the first time.
• Hillsdale's runner-up finish in the G-MAC is the best finish by a Chargers team in the regular season since Hillsdale won the GLIAC South Division title and tied for the best regular season record in 2009. The Chargers' 16 conference wins are also second behind the Chargers' 19 victories in 2009 for the best conference mark in the 46-year history of the program.
• Depending on the way this week plays out, Hillsdale also has a shot at its first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2017-18 season. The Chargers were 7^th in the most recent regional rankings on Wednesday. A win in the G-MAC Tournament semifinal should put the Chargers in strong position to secure a bid, while a loss in the semis would leave a slim hope of making the field as an at-large. The NCAA DII Women's Basketball Tournament Selection Show will be Sunday, March 9 at 10:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
• Returning All-G-MAC honoree Lauren McDonald is a key player for the Chargers, averaging 14.9 points to lead Hillsdale and finish the 2024-25 regular season ranked fourth in the G-MAC. McDonald also leads Hillsdale in rebounds, assists and steals, and ranks in the top 10 in the G-MAC in field goal percentage (9^th), free throw percentage (6^th), rebounds per game (7^th), assists per game (2^nd), steals per game (2^nd) and assist to turnover ratio (5^th). She surpassed 1,000 points for her collegiate career on Saturday at Kentucky Wesleyan on Feb. 8 and had perhaps the best game of her career this past weekend, putting up a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double to help Hillsdale secure a runner-up conference finish with a 68-62 win at Malone.
• Caitlin Splain stands alone among sharpshooters in Hillsdale College history, as she broke the career 3-pointers in the Feb. 15 game against Northwood. Her 248 career 3-pointers entering this weekend exceed the program's previous all-time made 3-pointer record of 237 set by Chelsea Harrison from 2008 to 2012, and ranks third all-time in G-MAC history. The 3-point record is 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 15^th in Chargers history with 1,145 points. As a team Hillsdale is shooting 33.5% from deep, fourth-best in the G-MAC and 43^rd 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 43.9% from 3-point range and averaging 8 points per game so far, including a 17-point performance on 5 of 6 3-point shooting in a 74-60 win over Ursuline on Feb. 22.
• 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 7.1 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 latest outings include a career-high 12 points in a 74-60 win over Ursuline on Feb. 22 and matching that with 12 against Cedarville in the G-MAC Quarterfinal. Her energy and athleticism in the post could be a huge X-factor for the Chargers in the postseason.
• 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 39.3% from the floor so far against Hillsdale, and 28.2% from 3-point range. The Chargers are also controlling the glass, grabbing 39 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 1.01, behind only multi-time defending conference champion Ashland, and tied for 38^th across all of NCAA DII.