Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay women's basketball team defended their home court in dominant fashion on Thursday, Jan. 22, cruising to a 75-49 victory over the Hillsdale College Chargers at Croy Physical Education Center. That win gives the Oilers a 9-8 record on the year with a 5-5 mark in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play. The Chargers drop to 8-7 with a 4-5 record in the G-MAC.
Despite the lopsided final score, the game began as a contest of runs. Hillsdale opened with early momentum, holding a 7-3 lead midway through the first quarter. However, the Oilers responded, closing the period on a 15-3 run to take an 18-10 advantage.
Findlay maintained control throughout the second quarter, entering the locker room with a 37-26 halftime lead. The Oilers put the game out of reach in the third quarter, stifling the Chargers' offense by outscoring them 20-8 in the period. The defense was particularly suffocating in that frame, holding the visitors to just 19% shooting from the floor.
The lead ballooned to as many as 28 points late in the fourth quarter before Findlay secured the 26-point victory.
Findlay controlled the interior throughout evening, outscoring Hillsdale 40-20 in the paint. They also dominated the glass with a massive 48-28 rebounding advantage. The defensive effort was arguably the best of the season, as the Oilers forced 17 turnovers and recorded 14 steals as a team.
Individually, senior forward Alyssa Ziehler was a force in the paint, recording her sixth double-double of the season. She finished with 14 points and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds, finishing just one shy of her career high. She also added four steals on the defensive end.
Grad student Ariyah Douglas provided a massive spark off the bench, tying for the team lead with 15 points, an output that ties her career high. Douglas shot efficiently, hitting 3-of-4 from three-point range, and also contributed four steals.
MacKenzie Schulz tied Douglas for the team lead in scoring with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Joining Ziehler with a double-double, Allie Stockton tallied 13 points and grabbed ten rebounds to go along with three steals.
Findlay is back in action on Saturday, January 24 when they will travel to Pepper Pike, Ohio for a game against Ursuline.
