Box Score
A lot of time and energy was spent crafting the lengthy Senior Night pre-game introductions for the AU-Ohio Dominican women's basketball game on Thursday (Feb. 21) at Kates Gymnasium.
Yet the biggest introduction of the night had a script that would have suited a mute. Actions, not words, meant more as AU senior guard-forward Kari Daugherty (Fresno, Ohio/Dayton) was re-introduced to the lineup. This was Daugherty's first game back on the floor since she suffered a knee injury against Findlay on Jan. 17. That was a stretch of eight games.
Daugherty played 21 minutes and scored 18 points. She was 7-of-12 from the field and 2-of-2 at the free throw line. Daugherty just missed a double-double, she had nine rebounds. She was the leading scorer in the game, which Ashland won, 62-49. This was AU's 37th straight win at Kates Gymnasium.
This was a game of fits and starts. The Eagles took on the persona of their All-American, they could never put a long run together. In Daugherty's case, this was a premeditated plan, she would not play longer than three or four minutes at a time.
The third-ranked Eagles (26-1/19-1) scored the game's first 11 points and by halftime led, 32-20. Then with 9:39 remaining in regulation, ODU had fought back to within five points, 45-40. The Eagles scored the game's next 10 points to lead, 55-40 with 5:04 to go.
Daugherty was in and out of the lineup as the coaching staff looked to test her knee and her stamina. That went well. But when that process is taking place, some sacrifices with chemistry and cohesion are bound to happen.
"We were in and out, in and out with Kari," reminded AU head coach Sue Ramsey. "Twenty-one is a good number for her first game back.
"She was a little out of rhythm," continued Ramsey. "Again, it was one of those nights where we were a little sync."
The Eagles shot 41.4 percent from the field (24-of-58), had 15 turnovers and were out-rebounded for only the second time this season, 37-35. Again, what played big for the Eagles was their ability to not crumble during the game's mood swings.
AU has had a reliable defense all season and that was on display again. ODU had 20 turnovers and Ashland led in points off of turnovers, 21-14. It was hard for the Panthers (8-15/5-15) to mount a long run because they rarely got a good clean look at the basket. ODU shot 34.5 percent (19-of-55) from the field, 16.7 percent from three-point range (2-of-12). This game marked the ninth time this season the Eagles held a team to less than 50 points.
"I have a veteran team," said Ramsey. "We've played a lot of basketball together. Not just this year, but dating back to last year. I trust my veteran leadership on the floor."
Sophomore guard Taylor Woods (Wadsworth, Ohio) had 14 points and senior forward Daiva Gerbec (Dublin, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) had eight points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Lindsay Tenyak (Wadsworth, Ohio) and senior guard Ashley Dorner (Bellville, Ohio/Clear Fork) scored nine points apiece.
Guard Kacee Hockenberry led ODU with 13 points. Forward Melissa Scherpenberg, this week's GLIAC South Division player of the week, had 12 points and 11 rebounds and forward Katelyn Stuckey had 10 points. This trio has played well recently, ODU brought a three-game winning streak to Ashland. When the teams played the first time this season, AU prevailed, 83-46.
The Eagles take to the road on Saturday (Feb. 23, 3 p.m.), visiting Tiffin.
AU
WBB/ALK
