#23 Ashland (1-1) at Mercyhurst (1-3)
Saturday, Nov. 30, 1 p.m.
Mercyhurst Athletic Center, Erie, Pennsylvania
Setting The Scene
Ashland is the defending NCAA Division II national champion…the Eagles are coming into this game after falling to Indianapolis, 85-76 on Nov. 17. This is Ashland's first road game of the season. Ashland is 22-1 on the road over the last two years. The Eagles' only defeat was at Findlay, 66-51 on Feb. 14, 2013…the last time Ashland lost its road opener was against Indianapolis, 65-62 on Nov. 17, 2007…Ashland leads the all-time series against Mercyhurst, 26-9.
About the Eagles
The Eagles are ranked 23rd in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll and were picked to win the South Division title in the GLIAC preseason poll…the loss against Indianapolis ended a 44-game home winning streak and a 13-game winning streak overall. The last time the Eagles lost at home was also to Findlay, 81-73 in overtime on Jan. 29, 2011...the Eagles lead the GLIAC and are second in the nation in free throw percentage (85.0 percent). They also lead the conference in three-point field goals made per game (10.5), which ranks eighth nationally. They are third in the GLIAC in scoring (79.5 ppg.) and assists (17.0 apg.)… despite the loss to Indianapolis, the Eagles improved in many statistical categories from their season-opening win against Cedarville. Ashland had four fewer turnovers (15) and personal fouls (15) against the Greyhounds while having four more assists (19) and improving in both field goal and three-point field goal percentage. AU shot 27-for-60 from the field (45 percent) and converted 15-of-35 from the three-point line (42.9 percent)…four players scored in double figures and three players grabbed at least five rebounds against the Greyhounds…Ashland lost the rebounding battle, 34-26 and its bench was outscored, 34-4…the Eagles are 4-0 against PSAC teams since the beginning of the 2010-11 season. Ashland's last loss against a PSAC opponent was Nov. 29, 2009 against California (PA), 83-74.
Eagles to Watch
Senior guard Alyssa Miller leads the GLIAC in minutes played (36.5 mpg.) and is second in scoring (21.5 ppg.). Miller is tied for ninth in the conference in both field goal percentage (62.5 percent) and three-point field goal percentage (57.1 percent)…against the Greyhounds, she scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, and had four assists…Miller is Ashland's all-time leader with 470 career assists and set an AU single-season record with 192 last year…Miller recorded a school-record 15 assists at Tiffin (Feb. 23, 2013).
Junior guard Taylor Woods had one of the best shooting performances in program history against Indianapolis. Woods set an Ashland single-game record with nine three-pointers, breaking the old record of eight set by Bridget Donovan in 1999 against Mercyhurst. She also set a career high, scoring 29 points…Woods leads the GLIAC with 26.5 ppg. and is third with 12 made three-pointers…Woods has scored 20 or more points in four of her last five games dating back to last season and has nine in her career.
Sophomore guard McKenzie Miller has been inserted in the starting lineup this year and has provided an immediate impact. Miller averages 6.5 rpg. and ranks 17th in the GLIAC on the boards…against the Greyhounds, Miller posted career bests in both points and rebounds, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 35 minutes.
Freshman forward Suzy Wollenhaupt is averaging 10.0 ppg., and 5.5 rpg., and is shooting 54.5 percent from the field in her first two collegiate games…Wollenhaupt ranks eighth in the GLIAC in minutes played (33.5 mpg.) and is 10th in free-throw percentage (88.9 percent).
Head Coach Sue Ramsey
Ramsey is in her 19th year at Ashland. Her record at Ashland is 325-200 (.619) and her career record as a college head is 420-328 (.561). Ramsey is the program's career leader in wins and has led AU to four postseason berths. She was named the 2012 GLIAC coach of the year and the WBCA NCAA Division II national coach of the year. She also received the WBCA's Carol Eckman Award in 2012 and in the fall, she was inducted into Miami's (Ohio) Cradle of Coaches. Ramsey has won 20 or more games five times and has two, 30-win seasons on her resume. AU has won the last two GLIAC Championships under Ramsey, the only two titles in program history. The 2011-12 team went 19-0 in the GLIAC, the only team in conference history to complete a 19-game conference schedule unblemished.
About Mercyhurst
The Lakers have been a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) since 2008 and have an all-time conference record of 32-54. They finished last season with a 7-20 record, 7-15 in the PSAC and lost in the first round of the conference tournament to Indiana (Pa.)…the Lakers are scoring 65.8 ppg…as a team, they have a +10.2 rebounding margin…this is the fourth matchup for the Lakers against a GLIAC school this season. Since the beginning of the 2009-10 season, Mercyhurst is just 1-12 against the GLIAC. The Lakers opened the season losing at home to Findlay, 75-68 on Nov. 16. They also fell on the road at Lake Erie on Nov. 23, 52-50, and to Tiffin on Tuesday, 76-60...against the Dragons, the Lakers shot 38.9 percent from the field (23-of-59) and converted just 3-of-19 shots from the three-point arc (15.8 percent). Tiffin jumped out to a 43-30 halftime lead, as the Dragons shot 57.1 percent in the half…the 'Hurst bench was outscored by the Dragons, 31-10…Mercyhurst returns one starter from last year…the Lakers have seven freshmen on their roster and one transfer…the Lakers have three players averaging in double figures…sophomore guard Adrienne Kloecker is the team's leading returning scorer. This year, she is second on the team with 13.0 ppg., and is third in rebounding (6.5 rpg.). Kloecker had 20 points and five rebounds against Lake Erie and 22 points and eight rebounds against Seton Hill on Nov. 20…senior forward Alayna White is the team's top scorer and rebounder, averaging 14.5 ppg., and 8.8 rpg. White scored a career-high 23 points against Seton Hill and finished with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting against Tiffin…freshman forward Natalie Piaggesi has stepped into the starting lineup and dominated. She is averaging 10.5 ppg., and grabbing 7.8 rpg. In the season-opener against Findlay, Piaggesi scored 22 points and had 12 rebounds.
Eagles-Lakers
The Eagles lead the all-time series, 26-9…Ashland has won 14 straight games against the Lakers and hasn't lost since a 73-69 overtime game on Feb. 1, 2003…the two schools were GLIAC rivals from 1995-2008. During that span, the Eagles went 18-8 against the Lakers…AU and Mercyhurst met once last year (Nov. 25, 2012) with Ashland winning, 81-51 at Kates Gymnasium. The Eagles led at halftime, 45-26 and finished the game shooting 43.7 percent from the field. Ashland had a 46-34 edge on the glass and 20 offensive rebounds. AU had 24 assists in the game and forced 18 turnovers. Woods scored 11 points and had four assists. Miller scored eight points and had four assists.
Up Next
The Eagles take to the road and begin their GLIAC title defense against Grand Valley State on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., followed by a matchup with Ferris State on Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. The Eagles are 40-1 against GLIAC opponents in the regular season the last two years.
AU
WBB/MB
