Box Score Years ago, people raced to the West Coast in search of gold.
The Ashland University women's basketball team has gone there to show what the gold standard looks like. Saturday (Nov. 10) the top-ranked Eagles ran their record to 2-0 with a 70-59 triumph over the Gannon Golden Knights at the Disney Classic in Anaheim, Calif.
This is a win with a lot of value - Gannon is expected to be one of the top teams in the nation. GU entered this game fresh off a win in its season opener at the Disney Classic. In two preseason polls, the Golden Knights were ranked in the nation's Top 20.
In this game, GU had trouble from the start keeping up with the Eagles. Ashland roared out to a 12-0 lead with 12:35 left in the first half. Ten of the points in that run came from senior guard-forward Kari Daugherty (Fresno, Ohio/Dayton). Daugherty would end up terrorizing the Golden Knights for 29 points and 19 rebounds. She was 11-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-7 at the free throw line.
AU's defense was suffocating. In that opening run, Gannon was 0-for-7 from the floor with six turnovers. With 5:58 left in the first half, AU was in front, 21-14. At the half, AU led, 32-19. Thanks in large part to Daugherty, Ashland controlled the battle on the boards, 38-29.
Gannon was unable to cut into the Ashland margin in the second half. To get back in the game, the Golden Knights were going to need to work fast. They couldn't. With 14:06 left in regulation Daugherty dropped in a layup and Ashland led, 44-29. With five minutes to go, Ashland enjoyed a 15-point advantage.
Junior guard Alyssa Miller (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley) had 12 points, four assists and two blocked shots. Miller and Daugherty were the only two AU players to score in double digits.
The Eagles, as usual, did a good deal of damage at the free throw. Ashland led the country in free throw percentage last seaon and in this game, clicked on 13-of-14 attempts (92.9 percent). That, plus the rebound margin, made it very difficult for Gannon to stage any sort of comeback.
Guards Kelley Sundberg and Mollie Sebald paced the Golden Knights with 11 points apiece.
Ashland plays its final game at this event on Sunday (Nov. 11) when it squares off against Grand Canyon.
AU
WBB/ALK
