2022 Warren graduate Emma Ruhlman recently provided a double-double for Hillsdale College to defeat NCAA Division II No. 19 ranked Malone University. Photo submitted to the Times Observer

Emma Ruhlman proved once again why she is one of the best girls basketball players to ever come out of Warren High.

Ruhlman, a WAHS 2022 grad, District 10 champion, and a 1,448-point scorer, recently helped her Hillsdale Chargers take down the No. 19 Division II program in the country — Malone University.

Ruhlman’s impressive double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds propelled the Chargers to a 61-54 home victory over the Pioneers.

“It’s a huge win for the team,” reported Ruhlman. “Our conference (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) is so competitive, so to be able to take care of business against the No. 1 team (in our conference) like that is huge, especially this early on in the season. It helps our momentum by setting the tone for what we are capable of, especially going on a 4-game stretch this week.”

Ruhlman is just getting started as she and the Chargers have a long season ahead of themselves with a lot of potential. “We just need to keep playing the team basketball we’ve been playing. We have so many threats, and on any given night someone can go off. Offensively, we do a great job of sharing the ball, and it makes us hard to guard. Our defense is what keeps us in games, and continuing to hold teams below their average will be huge,” reported Ruhlman.

Ruhlman is a senior biochemistry major at Hillsdale College, and will be attending medical school this fall. “Playing at Hillsdale has been such a blessing, and I’m so excited for the rest of the season. Knowing it’s my last year of basketball makes it bittersweet, but I am ready to give everything I have left to this program,” stated Ruhlman.

The soon-to-be Hillsdale grad is taking nothing for granted and hopes to make a run in her final year. “Last year we made the NCAA DII tournament, were runner-up in the G-MAC, and had the best season Hillsdale has seen in years. This year, people thought we would be in a rebuild. I’d like to think this game showed we are definitely not in a rebuild at all,” said Ruhlman.

Ruhlman and the Hillsdale Chargers are right back at it on Monday as they host G-MAC rival Walsh for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.