Box Score How do you stop a skid when you're behind the wheel? Stay calm and steer into it.
How do you stop a skid when you're at the wheel in GLIAC basketball? Stay calm and steely and try to be fearless.
That worked for the AU women's basketball team on Saturday (Jan. 4) at Lake Superior State. The Eagles put an end to a three-game skid by beating the Lakers, 60-57.
Ashland is 6-4, 4-2 in GLIAC play. The Eagles, who have won two consecutive conference champonships, are in first place in the GLIAC South Division. Ashland's next four games, all GLIAC contests, will be played at home.
Saturday's game was tied eight times and the lead changed hands 10 times. The score was tied, 54-54 when Ashland freshman forward Suzy Wollenhaupt completed an old-fashioned three-point play. Wollenhaupt dropped in a layup and in the process, drew a foul from Laura Vanes. She connected on the ensuing free throw for a 57-54 AU lead.
LSSU (2-10/2-4) misfired on a three-pointer and missed a free throw before AU's Melanie Poorman canned a free throw for a 58-54 AU lead with 10 seconds to play in regulation. A triple by Lake Superior State's Raven Trammell with seven seconds left cut the Ashland lead to 58-57.
AU freshman Kelsey Peare made two free throws with five seconds to play to give Ashland a 60-57 edge. The last shot of the game, a three-pointer by LSSU's Kandace Crittendon with a second left, was off the mark.
Ashland had a 29-28 halftime lead.
Wollenhaupt had 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Guard Taylor Woods had 11 points and Poorman finished with nine points and five rebounds.
Fisher had 15 points and six rebounds and Trammell scored 14 points. Vanes had 10 points, six rebounds and blocked five shots.
The Eagles went 20-of-28 (71.4 percent) at the free throw line. In the second half, they were 15-of-20. By contrast, the Lakers were 9-of-15 (60 percent).
AU's homestand begins on Thursday (Jan. 9, 5:30 p.m.) against Northern Michigan.
AU
WBB/ALK
