February 28, 2008 - It's playoff time, and both of Hillsdale College's basketball teams are in the GLIAC Tournament, playing in different locations Saturday afternoon.

The Hillsdale College women's basketball team, ranked 18th in the nation, will host a quarterfinal game for the third year in a row. The Chargers (23-3) will take on Wayne State University at 1 p.m. Saturday in Jesse Philips Arena.

The men's basketball team, 14-13 on the season, travel to Allendale to take on undefeated and No. 2 ranked Grand Valley State University at 3 p.m.

WOMEN'S PREVIEW
Saturday's game kicks off what the women's basketball team hopes will be an extended postseason run. The team has enjoyed its finest season in school history, already tying the school record for wins in a season. The Chargers have won 11 games in a row, and two of the wins in that streak came against Saturday's opponent, Wayne State.

Hillsdale and Wayne State played each other twice in the month of February, with the Chargers winning games on Feb. 2 at home (67-64) and Feb. 23 in Detroit (76-60). It's the first time since 2004-05 that Hillsdale swept the regular season series from the Warriors.

These same two teams also met in the first round of the 2007 GLIAC Women's Basketball Tournament. The Chargers won that matchup on Feb. 27, 2007, 76-59. Hillsdale advanced to the GLIAC Championship Game last year, losing to Gannon 88-77 in Erie, Pa.

The Chargers are the only nationally ranked team in the conference, and own the longest winning streak of any team in the GLIAC this season. Hillsdale finished with a 15-2 GLIAC record, and if it can beat Wayne State, the team will host the GLIAC Semifinals and Finals for the first time in school history, March 7-8.

But before any of that can happen, the Chargers need to get past a rough and tough Warrior team for the third time this season. Wayne State is one of the most physical teams in the conference, and deploys a deep playing rotation, meaning the team can overcome foul trouble, and can play a physical style of defense.

The object of Wayne State's defensive focus will likely be Hillsdale junior forward Katie Cezat. The GLIAC's scoring and rebounding champ this season, Cezat has scored a total of 72 points in two games vs. the Warriors this season, including a school-record 42 back on Feb. 2. In last Saturday's game in Detroit, Cezat led all players with 30 points and 16 rebounds in Hillsdale's win.

While Cezat has enjoyed a spectacular season from November until now, the rest of the Chargers have picked up their confidence and production as the season has moved along. Emblematic of that improvement is junior guard Claire Aubrey, who has emerged as a complete player for the team, particularly during this current 11-game winning streak.

Aubrey has scored 10 or more points in six straight games, including back-to-back games of 19 and 16 points against Findlay and Wayne State, respectively. Those represent her two highest-scoring games of her career. She has developed an accurate jump shot, and recently had a stretch of three straight games where she made two 3-point baskets.

Sophomore guard Janay Miller has also upped her offensive production recently, averaging 12.2 points per game during Hillsdale's 11 game winning streak. She has eight double-digit scoring games during the streak, after putting together just four such games in the team's first 15 contests. She was averaging 7.4 points per game in the first 15 games of this season.

Hillsdale is the toughest defensive team in the conference, ranking first in points allowed, field goal percentage defense and scoring margin. The Chargers have also climbed up the scoring rankings of the GLIAC, now up to third in scoring offense at 72.3 points per game. Hillsdale is averaging 76 points per game during this 11-game winning streak.

Wayne State has a diverse team, with small, quick guards and a deep reserve of post players. The Warriors lead the GLIAC in steals per game and turnover margin, which indicates strong play from guards like Jasmine McCall, Brooke Bowers and Joy Nash.

All games during Hillsdale's playoff run will be broadcast on the radio by WCSR 92.1 FM. All GLIAC Tournament games will also be webcast by B2Networks. Check the GLIAC and the Hillsdale College athletic websites for more details.

Wayne State hasn't beaten Hillsdale in Jesse Philips Arena since the 1994-95 season. Click on the links below for information on Wayne State women's basketball, as well as the GLIAC Women's Basketball Tournament bracket.

Wayne State women's basketball

GLIAC Women's Basketball Tournament Page

MEN'S PREVIEW
To say the men's basketball team faces a monumental challenge Saturday would be an understatement.

The Chargers will take on Grand Valley State University at 3 p.m. in Allendale. All the Lakers have done this season is rise up to be ranked No. 2 in the nation, lead all Division II teams in wins, and rack up a perfect record so far this season. The Lakers beat the Chargers in Hillsdale, 66-50, back on Jan. 31. Hillsdale hasn't beaten Grand Valley since the 2003-04 season.

The Chargers have lost two games in a row, but enter the conference tournament with a 14-13 overall record. Hillsdale did not make the GLIAC Tournament last season, despite having the same conference record in each of the past two years (7-10).

While Grand Valley sports the perfect record and national respect that comes with such a season, the Chargers won't be weaponless coming into Saturday's first-round game. Hillsdale has the highest scoring duo in the conference in Tony Gugino and Tim Homan. Gugino finished the regular season as the GLIAC's scoring leader at 19.7 points per game. Homan is third in the conference in scoring average at 17.6. Both players have scored 40 or more points in a game this season, the only 40-point games registered by any men's basketball player in the conference this season.

Hillsdale has had one of the GLIAC's highest scoring offenses throughout the season. Scoring has been a good barometer of the Chargers' success this season. When the team scores 80 or more points, it is 12-2 this season. When Hillsdale scores 79 points or less, it's 2-11.

Scoring points will be a challenge vs. the Lakers, the GLIAC's best defensive team. Grand Valley held Hillsdale to its lowest scoring output of the season (50 points) back on Jan. 31. Grand Valley surrenders just 53 points per game, tops in the GLIAC. Grand Valley ranks in the top four in the GLIAC in 16 different offensive and defensive categories.

The Lakers are big and athletic, and are led by center Callistus Eziukwu, a top candidate for player of the year. He and forward Jason Jamerson combine to average more than 29 points per game for the Lakers.

Click on the links below for game notes and information on Grand Valley's men's basketball team.

Grand Valley Men's Basketball

Charger men's basketball game notes