The Hillsdale College women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with three time defending G-MAC Champion Ashland in the 2025 G-MAC Tournament Final on Saturday, but couldn't hold off the Eagles in the end in a 69-57 defeat on the road.

In their first championship game appearance since winning the G-MAC Tourney title in 2018, the Chargers gave the powerhouse Eagles everything they could handle, playing with the lead for most of the game and holding a 55-54 edge as late as five minutes left in the contest.

Ultimately, however, the Chargers just couldn't break through offensively to match a late run by the Eagles. After a 5-0 run over the course of a little more than a minute put Ashland up 59-55, senior guard Caitlin Splain hit a driving laup with 2:58 to play to cut Ashland's lead to two, and a defensive stop gave the Chargers the ball back with a chance to tie or take the lead with 2:27 to play. 

Hillsdale was unable to convert, however, and the Eagles scored at the other end to go up 61-57. From there, the Chargers were forced to foul to try and stay in the game, but Ashland didn't give the Chargers the opening they needed, going 8 for 8 from the line in the final 40 seconds to put the contest out of reach.

Despite the loss, it was a hard fought contest for the Chargers, who put pressure on Ashland throughout the contest and briefly looked like it had the Eagles on the ropes. From late in the first quarter to the 8:19 mark in the second, Hillsdale went on a 14-0 run that turned a 17-12 deficit into a 26-17 lead, including seven points from Caitlin Splain and a made 3-pointer from senior Kendall McCormick. The Chargers kept the pressure on throughout the half, leading by as many as 10 before taking a 34-27 edge into halftime.

Even when the veteran Eagles made their run in the third quarter to get the game back to even, Hillsdale refused to flinch, matching Ashland blow-for-blow for a 13 minute stretch in the third and fourth quarters where the lead changed hands or the game was tied 13 times and no team led by more than three points.

Ultimately, the difference between victory and defeat was razor thin -- one too many empty possessions in the closing minutes of the game, and one too many made shots by the Eagles down the stretch that let them get to the point where they could put the game away at the line.

Splain had a huge night for the Chargers, helping Hillsdale build the halftime lead with 17 first half points and finishing with 23 points and four rebounds. Senior Lauren McDonald also was a warrior for Hillsdale, playing all 40 minutes and just missing a double-double with 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists despite drawing the Eagles' full defensive attention. The Chargers' third senior starter also came up big for Hillsdale, as McCormick just missed another potential double-double with nine points, eight rebounds and three steals as well. Marilyn Popplewell added six points as well for the Chargers.

The Chargers played well defensively, holding Ashland to just 42% shooting from the floor and 29.6% from 3-point range to give themselves a chance. Ultimately, the Eagles' offensive balance and 30 points off the bench proved to be too much for the Chargers to overcome. 

While Hillsdale fell short of a massive upset and the G-MAC title, the 21-9 Chargers can feel confident that the loss won't end their season. Hillsdale's run to the G-MAC Tournament Final should sew up an at-large bid to the NCAA DII Tournament and next week's Midwest Regional, beginning on Friday with a host site to be announced. The Chargers will find out for sure when the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Tournament selection show airs tomorrow at 10 p.m. on NCAA.com. If Hillsdale makes it, it will be their first bid since 2018, and the team's first at-large selection since 2008.

Photo Courtesy of Ashland Athletics