HILLSDALE, Mich. – In a dramatic contest, the Kentucky Wesleyan College women's basketball team lost to Hillsdale College 61-59 on Thursday evening. The Chargers have not lost on their home court all season, a streak which was in jeopardy until the final second. The Panthers, who never held a lead on the night, showed tremendous resiliency and erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game with a minute left. 
 
It was an influential matchup for the Great Midwest Conference standings as both teams were vying for a home game in the upcoming G-MAC Championship Tournament. The Panthers pressed their way back into the game in the final 10 minutes of play, forcing the Chargers into a number of turnovers. 
 
The final frame started with the Panthers trailing by 47-37, but Myah Montgomery opened the quarter with a three-point basket. After two free throws by the Chargers on the next possession, Emma Bruwer converted a three-point play before a steal and triple from Montgomery brought Wesleyan to 49-46 and forced a Hillsdale timeout. 
 
Hillsdale's lead climbed back up to seven points at 56-49 with five minutes left in the game. The Panthers fought back again, this time with three minutes left, with two free throws by Riley Neal which was followed by a steal from Carson Sisk. The Sisk steal led to Georgia Acompanado driving the lane for an easy bucket, bringing the Panthers back to within one possession at 58-55.
 
The Chargers split a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession, which gifted the Panthers a chance to get even closer. Back-to-back spinning layups from Bruwer sandwiched between a Hillsdale turnover tied the game at 59 with a minute remaining. An empty Charger possession gave the Panthers the ball with 37 seconds left in the game. 
 
With a chance to take their first lead of the game, the Chargers forced the Panthers into a turnover, giving Hillsdale a chance to break the tie in the final 30 seconds. Savanah Smith, who the Panthers had kept quiet throughout the contest, got a friendly roll on her jumper from the lane with two seconds left to break the tie and give Hillsdale a 61-59 lead. 
 
The Panthers called an immediate timeout and advanced the ball to half court, but Bruwer's attempt to win the game misfired. It was a tough start for the Panthers, who trailed 31-15 at the break, but it was their defense that led them to outscore the Chargers 44-30 in the second half. 
 
Bruwer finished with 17 points to lead the Panthers in scoring. Neal added 14 points and pulled in five rebounds. Myah Montgomery totaled 10 points and five rebounds in the loss. 
 
The road doesn't get easier for the Panthers as they will travel to Northwood on Saturday for a matchup with the Timberwolves. Tipoff at Riepma Arena is scheduled for 12PM CT. 
 
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