Women’s basketball  has kicked into high gear this spring, with the team deep into conference play. The Hilltoppers began the season on fire, winning 10 of their first 11 games. However, since then, the team has lost four of  their last six games and now holds an overall record of 12-5, with a 7-4 Heartland Conference mark.

This record marks the best start to a season since the team joined the NCAA in 1999. This success can be attributed to a variety of factors, according to head coach J.J. Riehl. 

“I think we were in better shape than everyone else and we were able to press and run and transition to get out and get easy buckets,” Riehl said.

After their tough three-game losing skid, the team still wanted to fight for a conference championship. They beat the defending Heartland Conference Champions, the UTPB Falcons, in an overtime thriller on Jan. 18.

Coach Riehl was thrilled with the win.

“We were able to scratch and claw and grind out a win,” Riehl said.

Although the team has dug itself into a bit of a hole, it has big dreams of winning a championship this season. Still, it will have to get on a hot streak once again to make it happen. There are four remaining conference road games, and the team has a dismal 2-4 record on the road.

Although most of the team is composed of upperclassman, no one was surprised to learn freshman Mileka Loydrake was named the Heartland Conference player of the week for Jan. 13-19. During that stretch, Loydrake averaged 22 points per game, had a 53% shooting percentage and shot a stellar 94% from the free throw line.

“Mel is playing great. She is getting comfortable,” Riehl said. “Her total stat line is much better. I think her overall production is going up.”

The “M&M” combo of the team’s lead scorers Maddie Wheeler and Mileka Loydrake hope to give the Lady Hilltoppers a spark in their next home game this Saturday at 1 p.m.