Box Score There are those who will tell you that Kates Gymnasium has no perks, that it offers very few comforts and that it needs to be modernized.
For AU sophomore forward Daiva Gerbec (Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) that facility was an executive "boardroom" on Tuesday (Nov. 16). Gerbec was at the head of the table as she snared a school record 21 boards and Ashland improved to 2-0 with a 71-50 win over Central State (0-2).
Gerbec went one better than Carissa Mahoney and Jackie Mason, the two players who held the single-game record of 20 rebounds. Gerbec pulled down the record-setting rebound with 1:37 left in regulation. She had eight offensive rebounds and 13 defensive rebounds. The sophomore had a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) 11 minutes into the game.
Gerbec led all players in the game with 17 points. Twelve of those came in the first half when the Eagles took a 39-24 lead at the intermission. Ashland put the game away by outscoring the visitors, 16-4 over the first five minutes of the second half. Senior forward Liz Tyler (Monroeville, Ohio) and freshman guard-forward Mikaela Lengal (Brunswick, Ohio) had five points apiece in that run. With 15 minutes left in the game, Ashland was in front, 55-28. The Eagles eventually build their lead up to 29 points.
Ashland outrebounded the visitors, 60-45, forced 16 turnovers and led in second-chance points, 14-6. The Eagles had 17 offensive rebounds. Defensively, Ashland got consistent pressure all night. Central State shot 27 percent (20-of-74) from the floor.
In addition to Gerbec, AU placed three other players in double digits in scoring. Sophomore guard Lindsay Tenyak (Wadsworth, Ohio) had 12 points and Lengal and Tyler finished with 11 points each. Junior guard Jena Stutzman (Hiland, Ohio/Kent State) had nine points, six assists and did not have a turnover in 31 minutes. Gerbec had five assists.
Forward Brooklyn Morrow had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead Central State. Chloe Obasogie came off the bench to score 10 points and grab seven rebounds.
The Eagles are idle until they visit Walsh next Tuesday (Nov. 23) in another non-conference matchup.
AU
WBB/ALK
