Box Score In August, the Ashland University athletic department had made plans to stage a boxing match at Kates Gymnasium.
That event never came off but on Saturday (Dec. 1) at that same facility, the AU women's basketball team was definitely on the ropes
The Eagles had a 40-25 lead at halftime against Ferris State. With 8:34 left in regulation, that AU lead was done to four points, 51-47. The Bulldogs (2-3/1-1 GLIAC) were functioning as exceptional cut men, drawing blood at both ends of the floor.
It shows a lot about the Eagles' poise that they were able to regroup and take the Bulldogs' best shot. Clinging to a four-point lead, sophomore guard Taylor Woods (Wadsworth, Ohio) got free for a layup and then senior forward Daiva Gerbec (Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) dropped in a layup. Junior guard Alyssa Miller (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley) buried a jumper moments later and AU led, 57-47 with 6:44 to go. FSU never got closer than nine points the remainder of the game and the Eagles, ranked first in the nation, went on for a 72-62 triumph. This was AU's 28th consecutive win at home. It was the Eagles' 33rd straight regular season victory. This was AU's closest game this season.
AU senior guard-forward Kari Daugherty (Fresno, Ohio/Dayton) struggled offensively, knocking down 5-of-19 field goal tries. Daugherty did finish with 12 points and 19 rebounds. That's her 25th consecutive double-double and that's an NCAA record.
FSU made Daugherty and her mates work for everything. The Bulldogs came to town as a depleted bunch, last year's GLIAC freshman of the year, forward Christina Branch, is out with a knee injury. But the Bulldogs have explosive guard Sarah DeShone and the experience that comes from playing in big games. That counts for a lot.
"I thought Ashley (Dorner) made a great comment in the locker room, she said, 'We needed a game like that," said AU head coach Sue Ramsey. "We're going to get everyone's best shot. This is the game they mark on the calendar with a star. I have a great deal of respect for Ferris. They played hard. I was impressed with their hustle."
While Daugherty struggled with her shot, several other Eagles did as much as they could to fill that offensive void. Miller was exceptional with 13 points, seven assists, three rebounds and a steal. Woods had 12 point. AU's leading scorer was Gerbec who went 7-for-12 from the floor on the way to 18 points. Ten of her points came in the second half.
"It happens," said Ramsey of Daugherty's shooting woes. "But as Kari said in the locker room, 'It's not the Kari show. It's the team."
In the second half, FSU climbed back into the game in large part by taking away some of the skills the Eagles (8-0/2-0) do well. Ashland is one of the best free throw shooting teams in the nation. In the second half, AU went to the free throw line six times. For the game, AU was 7-of-9 at the line.
The Bulldogs defended the three-point shot well. AU was 5-for-19 (26.3 percent) for the game, 2-of-11 (18.2 percent) in the second half. Over the last 20 minutes, the Bulldogs stayed even with the Eagles on the glass, 21-21. Recently, Gerbec , Daugherty and the Eagles have had an immense advantage in second chance points. In this game, AU led in second chance points, 13-11.
DeShone led the way for the Bulldogs, playing 38 minutes and scoring 20 points. Guard Ashley Rando had 14 points and center Hannah Hoffman posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Hoffman also rejected three shots.
This is the third time AU and FSU have played in the last year. It is however, the first time the Eagles have seen the Bulldogs with Colleen Lamoreaux-Tate as the head coach. She is in her first year at FSU.
"Everybody in the GLIAC knows everybody," Ramsey said, when asked about the new look in the matchup. "There are no secrets."
The Eagles will play their first GLIAC road game of the year this coming Wednesday (Dec. 5, 8 p.m.) at Wayne State.
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