In an important game in the G-MAC race, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team survived a close contest with Tiffin at home, forcing overtime late and making big defensive plays in the extra period to secure a 76-73 win.

The Chargers never led in the fourth quarter, and trailed 63-61 with under 30 seconds to play. Sophomore Sarah Aleknavicius, in just her second game back from an injury, made an acrobatic drive to the basket and finished at the rim with 12 seconds left in the quarter to tie the game and force overtime.

In the extra period, Aleknavicius was critical as the Chargers pulled ahead, leading off the period with a 3-pointer to give Hillsdale an early lead and going 3 of 4 from the line to help keep the Chargers ahead. Junior Annalise Pietrzyk also knocked down an important 3-pointer with 1:21 left in overtime to give the Chargers breathing room and hit two crucial free throws as well.

Tiffin refused to go quietly, knocking down two late 3-pointers to cut the lead to three, but Emma Ruhlman had a massive block with 20 seconds to play to help keep the Chargers ahead, and Aleknavicius sealed the victory by blocking another 3-pointer put up at the buzzer to prevent any chance of the Dragons forcing a second overtime game.

Savannah Smith was massive in the post for the Chargers throughout the game, tying her career high with 25 points on 12 of 23 shooting from the floor to help keep Hillsdale in the contest as the Chargers were playing from behind against the Dragons for much of the game. Pietrzyk added 15 points and six rebounds, including five critical points in overtime, and Aleknavicius scored eight of her 11 points in the final 20 seconds of the game and the overtime period while also finishing with seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks. 

Emma Ruhlman led a massive Chargers effort on the glass with 15 rebounds, a new career-high, and also chipped in eight points, four assists and two steals. Hillsdale outrebounded Tiffin 50-36 in the contest, including 19 offensive rebounds the Chargers turned into 14 second chance points. The Chargers also scored 24 points off turnovers in the victory, taking advantage of its defense to pull out the victory.

Emilia Sularski chipped in eight points and Ellie Bruce seven off the bench, while Maddie Smith added six assists for the Chargers.

The victory is an important one for Hillsdale, which maintains its three-game advantage over ninth place in the G-MAC standings for the eighth and final G-MAC Tourney spot. The Chargers can all but lock up a spot in the tournament on Saturday if it can get past visiting Ohio Dominican, who is now Hillsdale's closest chaser for that spot. Hillsdale will meet the Panthers at 1 p.m. on Fan Appreciation Day and Alumni Day in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.