The Hillsdale College women's basketball team remained unbeaten at home -- now 9-0 on the season -- after riding a fast start to a 63-52 win over visiting Ohio Dominican on Saturday.

The Chargers got an early advantage, outscoring ODU 17-9 in the first quarter, and kept the Panthers at arm's length the rest of the way, leading for double-digits for most of the rest of the contest and not allowing ODU closer than seven points to the lead in the final three quarters.

Hillsdale used a dominant defensive effort to pull away from Ohio Dominican. After the Chargers surrendered the first four points of the game, Hillsdale held ODU to just five points for the final eight minutes of the first quarter to build an eight-point lead. For the game, the Panthers shot just 31.6% from the floor, and would have fared worse if not for seven made 3-pointers aiding them offensively.

The Chargers also dominated the glass against the Panthers, outrebounding ODU 46-32, with 15 Hillsdale offensive rebounds. Senior Emma Ruhlman was the standard-bearer for the Chargers on that front, tying her career high with 15 rebounds while also adding in 15 points for second double-double of the season. Ruhlman was effective both in the paint and beyond the arc, knocking down three 3-pointers as well.

Savannah Smith tied Ruhlman for the Hillsdale lead in points with 15 on 6 of 10 from the floor as well for the Chargers, while Sarah Aleknavicius and Ellie Bruce each chipped in seven points as well. Annalise Pietrzyk had a quiet shooting night with five points for Hillsdale but helped the Chargers in other ways, grabbing eight rebounds and adding two steals, and Maddie Smith also chipped in four assists for Hillsdale.

The Chargers won the battle of points in the paint 30-18 over ODU, and trumped the Panthers from beyond the arc with eight made 3-pointers to ODU's seven as well.

The victory is a big one for Hillsdale, now 12-8 overall and 8-6 in league play. The Chargers are now four games ahead of ninth place with six games left in the regular season, all but assuring Hillsdale a place in the G-MAC Tournament for the fourth straight season. The victory also moves the Chargers into sixth place in the conference standings by a half game over Ashland and Walsh, and leave Hillsdale just a game and a half out of fourth place. 

The Chargers will look to continue to make up ground and contend for a top four finish and hosting rights for a G-MAC quarterfinal. Hillsdale hits the road next week, beginning with a trip to Lake Erie on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.