This Week's Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 10 – Grand Valley State (17-4/10-4 GLIAC) at ASHLAND (13-7/8-5), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 12 – Ferris State (10-10/6-8 GLIAC) at ASHLAND (13-7/8-5), 3 p.m.
A Quick Look at the Eagles
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Several weeks after that, the GLIAC playoffs begin.
Next Monday (Feb. 14) is the day for candy, cards and flowers. About two weeks after that, the GLIAC playoffs begin and every league team will be looking for a way to avoid heartbreak and heartache. That's one way to look at the mad scramble that will take place over the next two weeks as teams fight for playoff positioning.
The AU women's basketball team has six regular season games remaining. The Eagles are looking to remain in the race for an NCAA Division II playoff berth and are jostling with several teams for positioning for the eight-team GLIAC tournament. Ashland begins the week in second place in the GLIAC South Division and in fifth place in the overall standings. If the season ended today, the Eagles would play at the fourth seed – Findlay – in the first round of the GLIAC playoffs.
This week brings Grand Valley State and Ferris State to Kates Gymnasium. AU plays both teams once during the regular season.
Flight Patterns
Thursday night's game will be broadcast by SportsTime Ohio with Marcus Walsh on the play-by-play and Ken Dworznik on the commentary. The games will be shown on STO on Friday (Feb. 11, 4 p.m.) and Saturday (Feb. 12, 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.).
Both games this week can be heard live on WNCO (1340 AM) with Ken Carman on the call. The campus radio station, WRDL-FM (88.9), will do both games live with Matt Brubaker describing all the action.
Head Coach Sue Ramsey
Ashland University head coach Sue Ramsey is in her 23rd season as a collegiate head coach. Her overall record is 343-321. At Ashland, Ramsey is 248-193. This is her 16th season at AU. Ramsey is the program's career leader in victories and she has guided the Eagles to the NCAA Division II playoffs twice (2003-04, 2005-06). She is the only coach in the program's history to lead the Eagles to the Division II playoffs. Ramsey's 2003-04 team won a school record 23 games.
Prior to arriving at AU, Ramsey spent eight seasons as the head coach at the University of Dayton (1986-1994). The AU head coach is a 1978 Miami (OH) graduate. She earned her master's degree from Dayton in 1988.
Eye on the Eagles
Sophomore forward-center Daiva Gerbec (Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) continues to make a case to be considered one of the top forwards in the conference. Gerbec is the GLIAC's leading rebounder (11.3 rpg.) and she's sixth in scoring (15.1 ppg.). The sophomore is fifth in free throw percentage (.846). Gerbec has 12 double-doubles (points-rebounds) this season and she has recorded a double-double in eight consecutive games. In two games last week, she averaged 14.0 rpg. Gerbec is 11th in the nation in rebounds per game…sophomore guard Lindsay Tenyak (Wadsworth, Ohio) is second in the GLIAC in three-point field goal percentage (.492/31-of-63). Tenyak has averaged 11.0 ppg., over the last three games. For the year, she's averaging 8.0 ppg…sophomore forward-center Beth Mantkowski (Fairlawn, Ohio/Copley) is eighth in the GLIAC in blocked shots (25/1.3 bpg.). Last week, in two games, Mantkowski averaged 14.0 ppg., and 6.0 rpg. She shot 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from the floor. For the year, Mantkowski is shooting 60.9 percent (56-of-92) from the field…junior guard Jena Stutzman (Berlin, Ohio/Kent State) is the GLIAC leader in free throw percentage (.927) and three-point field goals (2.4 per game). Stutzman is third in the league in scoring (16.2 ppg.). Now the bad news - Stutzman suffered a leg injury in the first half of the Jan. 29 against Findlay and hasn't taken the court since then…freshman point guard Alyssa Miller (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley) has 20 assists and 10 turnovers in the last four games. Miller tied her career scoring high last Thursday (Feb. 3) when she scored 13 points against Ohio Dominican.
Streaks, Strings and Things
Last week's loss to Tiffin was the first for AU against the Dragons. The Eagles had won the first 13 meetings…the 54 points the Eagles scored at Tiffin is the lowest output since Dec. 28 in San Diego when AU lost to Assumption, 64-48…AU's record when trailing at halftime is 1-3…Ashland has put together winning streaks of six and four games this season. The six-game string came over the season's first six games. AU's longest losing skein is four games (Dec. 19-Jan. 5, Hillsdale, Assumption, Mars Hill and Findlay)…AU has played three overtime games and is 1-2 in those games. This is the most OT games the Eagles have played since they had three overtime games during the 2001-02 campaign…Gerbec has played at least 35 minutes in three of the last five games…only one of AU's last seven games has been decided by five points or less.
Facts and Figures
- AU is 7-2 at Kates Gymnasium with the losses coming to Hillsdale (Dec. 19) and Findlay (Jan. 29)
- Ashland is second in the country in free throw percentage. AU has made 78.1 percent of its free throws. The only team in the country that's doing better is Southeastern Oklahoma (78.9). The Eagles are 17th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (37.5).
- AU has held five teams this season to 53 points or less.
- The Eagles are 2-1 against the GLIAC North this season. Last year, they went 3-10.
- Ashland went 3-5 in February last season.
- Two players – Gerbec and Poorman – have started every game this season. Last season the only player to start all 28 games was guard Lindsey Gaut.
- AU is the GLIAC leader in scoring (73.4 ppg.) and free throw percentage (.781). The Eagles are second in the league in field goal percentage defense (.362) and three-point field goal percentage (.375). AU is third in scoring margin (+11.2), field goal percentage (.442) and rebound margin (+5.0).
- This week at Kates Gymnasium brings together the top three teams in the GLIAC in assists. Ferris State is first (16.4 apg.), Grand Valley State is second (15.5 apg.) and AU is third (15.4 apg.).
Ashland vs. Grand Valley State
Grand Valley holds a 15-8 lead in the all-time series with AU. Last season GVSU defeated the Eagles twice, winning in Ashland, 72-50 and in Allendale, Mich., 81-68. Grand Valley State has a five-game winning streak against the Eagles. AU's last victory over the Lakers came on Feb. 2, 2008, at Kates Gymnasium, 69-64. In 2005-06, these teams met twice in the postseason. In the GLIAC championship game at GVSU, the Lakers downed the Eagles, 76-58. The next week in the NCAA Division II playoffs, Grand Valley ended AU's season with an 87-59 triumph.
Scouting Grand Valley State
The Lakers come to town with a four-game winning streak. The Lakers are 8-1 on the road this season, 9-1 if you count a game at a neutral site. GVSU is third in the GLIAC North Division and third in the overall GLIAC standings. The Lakers were ranked 22nd in the country last week. Last week, the Lakers won twice on the road, beating Saginaw Valley State (66-61) and Lake Superior State (76-71). The Lakers are in the midst of a four-game road swing.
Alex Stelfox, a 6-2 sophomore center, is seventh in the conference in scoring (15.0 ppg.) and fourth in field goal percentage (.551/141-of-256). Stelfox was the GLIAC freshman of the year last season and a member of the All-GLIAC defensive team.
Briauna Taylor, a 5-9 sophomore forward, is averaging 14.9 ppg. (ninth in the GLIAC) and 6.7 rpg. (13th). She is third in the conference in field goal percentage (.558/67-of-120). Taylor is this week's GLIAC North Division player of the week. She averaged 19.5 ppg., and 7.0 rpg., last week.
Point guard Jasmine Padin is one of the GLIAC's best backcourt players. She leads the league in steals (49/2.4 spg.) and assist-turnover ratio (2.1) and is second in assists (111/5.3 apg.). Padin averages 9.0 ppg.
GVSU is the GLIAC leader in rebound margin (+8.0) and is second in scoring (71.2 ppg.), scoring margin (+11.2), field goal percentage (.453) and assists (15.5 apg.).
Janel Burgess is in her fourth year as the GVSU head coach. Her record is 81-36 (69.2 winning percentage).
Ashland vs. Ferris State
Ferris State enjoys a 14-10 lead in the series with the Eagles. Ashland has won five of the last six meetings. A year ago, the Eagles quieted the Bulldogs in Ashland, 71-66 and lost at FSU, 75-67. The last time the Bulldogs won in Ashland was in the 2003-04 season, 85-81.
Scouting Ferris State
FSU begins the season with a 10-10 record, 6-8 in the GLIAC North. The Bulldogs are fifth in the GLIAC North. A strong finish could propel FSU to the conference tournament. Ferris State will play at Lake Erie on Thursday (Feb. 10). The Bulldogs have won four of their last six games.
The Bulldogs have received strong play at both ends of the floor from 5-9 senior forward Tiara Adams. She's averaging 13.0 ppg., and 7.0 rpg. Adams is 14th in the conference in scoring and 10th in rebounding.
Tricia Principe, a 5-9 junior guard-forward, is averaging 11.9 ppg. She's shooting .907 from the free throw line, which puts her second in the GLIAC. Principe is fifth in the loop in three-point field goal percentage (.446) and seventh in triples per game (37/1.9). Becci Houdek, a 5-9 senior guard, is second in the conference in assist-turnover ratio (2.1) and tied for sixth in steals (39/2.8 spg.). Houdek averages 7.8 ppg.
The head coach of the Bulldogs is Tracey Dorow. She's been on the FSU bench since 1998-99. Her record is 198-134 (.596 winning percentage).
Ramsey on Grand Valley State and Ferris State
While this is the first time the Eagles have played GVSU and Ferris State this season, Ramsey has watched enough film on both teams to know what the Eagles are getting into this week.
"They're very talented in every position," said Ramsey of the Lakers. "They have a lot of speed and what impresses me the most is how well they've clicked together. They have a lot of freedom to play and that capitalizes on their strengths. They have great court awareness. That makes defending them a challenge."
Ramsey points out that Ferris State is playing its best basketball of the season. Michigan Tech has one conference loss this season and that came courtesy of the Bulldogs.
"They've played together for a long time," Ramsey said. "They know their strength and how to play to those. They want to use their physicality."
In the GLIAC
Michigan Tech, ranked eighth in the country last week, is 18-2 and 13-1 in conference play. MTU holds the top seed in the league. A key game comes this Saturday (Feb. 12) when the Huskies visit Lake Superior State. LSSU is 14-6, 11-3 in the conference. The Lakers are second in the GLIAC North and are second in the overall standings. The first time the teams met this season Tech won, 69-66. MTU has won the last three GLIAC North Division titles.
A Forward Moving Forward
As well as Gerbec played a year ago when she averaged 10.4 ppg., 5.5 rpg., and shot 51.5 percent from the field, what she has given the Eagles this year goes to another level. Gerbec is much more consistent this season. There's not a facet of her game that hasn't been upgraded.
"She just knows when she gets the ball she can do something to score," said Ramsey. "That's the biggest difference, her ability to score. She's always had the rebounding knack. That doesn't surprise me. She realized she would get to the foul line and she worked hard in the offseason to knock those down. I also give a lot of credit to Lynsey Warren (former AU assistant coach). In practice Daiva went against her. That was critical in her learning about post play. She leaned on Lynsey a lot."
Finding Firepower
For another week, the Eagles are the GLIAC leader in scoring. Can they maintain that level without Stutzman, who accounted for over 16 points per game?
Time will answer that question. But the Eagles have some things in their favor which will help them avoid long scoring draughts.
First, AU is second in the nation in free throw percentage. If the Eagles can get to the free throw line, they can do some damage. Second, AU is 17th nationally in three-point field goal percentage. To date, the Eagles have not forced many shots from long range. The triples have come within the offense and the hope is that with Stutzman out, the Eagles won't get derailed and wildly fire up three-pointers.
Finally, when the Eagles get the ball inside they have Gerbec and Mantkowski, who have shown the ability to finish off plays.
"I like our movement, and even though we are a transition team, I like our half-court sets," said Ramsey. "I've talked to our team. We have to be purposeful about getting to the foul line. I think Lindsay Tenyak's numbers speak for themselves. Beth has done well down on the block. I think with Daiva, the other person with her is going to get more space to work with."
Pink Zone
Ashland University basketball will be in the "Pink Zone," this week. Both the men's and women's basketball teams will be wearing pink warm-up t-shirts to encourage support for breast cancer awareness. Cancer survivors are invited to the games free of charge and all fans are encouraged to wear pink. T-shirts will be sold at the Thursday and Saturday games. Short-sleeved t-shirts are $10 and long-sleeved shirts are $15. For more information, contact AU director of sports marketing Rachel Bixler, 419-289-5954.
On Deck
The Eagles will be stockpiling movies and magazines next week as they board the bus for a trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to play Michigan Tech (Thursday, Feb. 17) and Northern Michigan (Feb. 19, 3 p.m.). AU will leave for Houghton, Mich., late Tuesday night.
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