The Hillsdale College women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with host Ashland for nearly three full quarters on Saturday afternoon, but the Chargers couldn't answer a late third and early fourth quarter run by the Eagles in a 65-53 road loss.

The Chargers held a 30-29 halftime lead after a see-saw first half that saw both teams trade the lead multiple times in each of the first two quarters. Hillsdale started the third quarter with five straight points on a Savannah Smith 3-pointer and a Magdalena Sularski layup to take a six-point edge, and though the Chargers couldn't hold that lead, Hillsdale remained tight with Ashland, tying the game at 42-all with 2:22 to play in the third quarter on an Ellie Bruce layup.

That was the last time the game would be that close, however, as Ashland closed the third quarter and opened the fourth with a 12-0 run that put the Eagles up double-digits and gave them all the points they would end up needing to take the contest. Hillsdale punched back, trying to get back in the game, cutting the Eagles lead to 60-53 with 3:42 to play on back-to-back buckets by Smith. But it wouldn't be enough, as Ashland held Hillsdale scoreless for the final three and a half minutes of the contest to pull away.

On an afternoon where offense was at a premium, Ashland's superior finishing at the rim was the difference, as the Eagles shot 44.6% from the floor to Hillsdale's 33.9%, and outscored Hillsdale 38-18 on points in the paint. That allowed Ashland to overcome the Chargers' 15 offensive rebounds and 14 second-chance points, as well as a +13 rebound margin in favor of Hillsdale in the contest.

Sarah Aleknavicius just missed a double-double with 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists to lead the Chargers, Smith added 11 points and seven rebounds, and Emilia Sularski chipped in 11 points off the bench as well for Hillsdale. Bruce added seven points and eight rebounds, and Sydney Pnacek chipped in four assists for the Chargers.

Hillsdale falls to 13-9 overall, 9-7 with the loss, and now is part of a jumble of five teams with seven losses occupying spots four through eight in the G-MAC standings with two weeks to play. The Chargers will have a chance to clear up the logjam and secure a home playoff game with a strong finish, starting with a home contest against another one of the squads in that group, Kentucky Wesleyan, on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m.