November 16, 2008 - Senior forward Katie Cezat scored 14 of her game-high 32 points in a 27-11 explosion to start the second half, helping to lead the Hillsdale College women's basketball team to an 82-63 win over Missouri S&T Sunday afternoon in Rolla, Missouri.

With this key regional win, Hillsdale is now 2-0 on the season. Hillsdale is off until Nov. 28, when it participates in a two-day tournament hosted by the University of Indianapolis.

When the Chargers' schedule came out, this game stood out as an important one early in this season. Missouri S&T, like Hillsdale, was an NCAA regional tournament participant last year, and these two teams figure to be among the stronger programs in the Great Lakes Region in 2008-09. With the 19-point victory over the Miners on the road, the Chargers made an impressive statement that they are among the teams to beat this season.

Cezat turned in another dominating performance, with 32 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 15-for-22 from the field. With 54 points in her first two games of this season, the First-Team All-American has picked up right where she left off from last season.

The Miners, playing on their newly dedicated home court, jumped out to a 14-7 lead over the Chargers in the opening minutes of the game. But it didn't take long for Hillsdale to regain control of the contest, going on a 13-2 run to claim a 23-18 lead in the middle of the first half.

The rest of the half was evenly played by the two teams, with Hillsdale carrying a 40-36 lead into halftime. The game would never be that close again.

Four different players scored during a 16-2 burst to open the second half by the Chargers. That run extended out to 27-11 in the first 11 minutes of the second half, as Hillsdale broke open a four-point game into a commanding 20-point lead over the Miners.

Complementing Cezat's interior play was a superb game turned in by senior guard Claire Aubrey. She finished with 13 points, connecting on six of her seven shots from the field, including one from 3-point territory. Aubrey has cracked double figures in scoring in each of her first two games of this season, and 11 of her points came in the first half, helping to keep the Chargers afloat when the game was close.

Brooke Knight and Aubrey were each named to the All-Tournament Team. Cezat was named the tournament's MVP.

Knight turned in another well-rounded game for the Chargers, finishing with nine points, 10 assists, three rebounds and two steals. Freshman guard Chelsea Harrison, who nailed six 3-point baskets against Oakland City Saturday, had eight points and made both of her 3-point shots in this game.

To view the box score from the game, click on the link below.

Box score