The Hillsdale College women's basketball team returned from a long layoff over Christmas break determined to send notice that they'd be a real factor in the 2025-26 G-MAC title race.

Mission accomplished in the first game back, as the Chargers smothered #19 Malone in a 61-54 victory at home to hand one of the top contenders for the title its first conference loss.

Hillsdale stifled the G-MAC's top offensive attack entering Saturday's contest, holding Malone to just 27.5% shooting from the floor in the victory, including a 6 of 32 performance from 3-point range.

The Chargers shot 38.3% from the floor and 38.5% from 3-point range, but didn't put the Pioneers away until late in the fourth quarter as Malone used advantages on both the offensive glass (15 offensive rebounds) and forced turnovers (17, turned into 12 Malone points) to hang in the contest despite its struggles cracking Hillsdale's defense.

Hillsdale trailed for almost all of the first 17 minutes of the contest and by as many as 10 points in the second quarter, but closed the period on an 18-5 run behind a pair of 3-pointers from senior Emma Ruhlman to take a 28-25 lead into halftime. The Chargers were ahead for almost the entire second half but Malone refused to go quietly, continuing to answer Hillsdale's runs and keeping the game tight deep into the fourth quarter.

The Chargers were able to build a solid advantage late thanks to strong defense and a pair of baskets by Savannah Smith that put Hillsdale up nine with 1:29 to play. Malone made one more late push with 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, but the Chargers weathered the storm with a clutch layup by Annalise Pietrzyk late and a 4-for-4 performance at the line by Ruhlman in the final minute.

Ruhlman had perhaps the finest game of her career in a Hillsdale uniform to help the Chargers pull the upset, finishing with 16 points and 14 rebounds for her first career double-double. Many of those rebounds came in the fourth quarter to help Hillsdale shut off Malone's offensive rebounding and put away the Pioneers for good.

Sarah Aleknavicius added 14 points and four rebounds in a solid performance, Pietrzyk added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists and Savannah Smith chipped in 10 points and six rebounds as well. Ellie Bruce finished with five points, six rebounds and two blocks for the Chargers.

Hillsdale improves to 6-3 overall, 2-1 in the G-MAC with the victory and face another critical game on Monday night as another G-MAC title contender, Walsh, comes to town for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. The Chargers will look to get an edge over the Cavaliers and keep pace with G-MAC leader Northwood in the league title race.