Wildcats drop opener, 77-66

Friday, November 12

Austin, Texas

12 p.m.

Abilene Christian

Hillsdale College

Photo by: Brandon McKelvey

11/12/2010 6:42:18 PM | Women's Basketball

AUSTIN – Hillsdale outscored ACU 13-3 during a key stretch of the first half Friday afternoon as the Chargers opened the 2010-11 women's basketball season with a 77-66 win over the Wildcats in the St. Edward's Shootout at the Recreation and Convocation Center.

The Wildcats (0-1) will wrap up their season-opening weekend Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when they play St. Edward's.

ACU cut Hillsdale's lead to 10-6 with 12:59 to play on a Renata Marquez layup, but the Chargers then went on a 13-3 run over the next 4:40 to grab a commanding 23-9 lead. Chelsea Harrison scored seven points in the run to give her team control of the contest.

Hillsdale's lead grew to as many as 25 points twice in the second half, the last time coming with 14:06 to play when Laura Barczak hit a pair of free throws to make it a 55-30.

But the Wildcats continued to play, eventually cutting the Hillsdale led to 72-4 with 45 seconds left on a layup by freshman Hillari Adam and 74-66 with 25 seconds left on a layup by Cecilee Perez. But the Chargers were able to hit their free throws down the stretch to hang on for the win.

Senior Autumn Whitaker had a team-high 17 points for the Wildcats, while Perez had 11 and Kelsey Smith 10 for ACU.