Box Score
The AU women's basketball team went into Thursday's (Jan. 9) game with Northern Michigan with a bench as thin as a mint wafer.
The game the Eagles produced was just mint quality – a 74-60 victory over Northern Michigan, a team ranked 24th in the country. The Eagles, who are in first place in the GLIAC South Division, are 7-4 and 5-2 in the conference. NMU is 9-2 and 6-1. This was Ashland's fifth consecutive win against the 'Cats.
Injuries reduced AU's active roster to eight players for this Thursday night showdown at Kates Gymnasium. Guard Melanie Poorman was the latest player to head to the sideline with an injury. AU had hoped to have guard Alyssa Miller ready for this game, but her hand injury still prevented her from taking the floor.
Junior guard Taylor Woods helped make up for that duo's absence with a game-high 26 points. Woods had 16 points in the second half when the Eagles outscored the Wildcats, 44-30. At halftime, the score was tied, 30-30.
This was the best game for Woods points-wise since she exploded for 34 points at Ferris State on Dec. 7. It was her sixth game this season of 20 or more points. The senior's line included five steals. AU also received 16 points and eight rebounds from guard McKenzie Miller and 12 points and eight rebounds from forward Suzy Wollenhaupt. Foul trouble limited Wollenhaupt to 19 minutes.
The Eagles played eight players in the game and seven scored. Woods played 40 minutes. She helped break open this game.
With 17:06 to play in regulation, NMU was in front, 33-32. Then AU freshman guard Emma Hostetler buried a three-pointer for a 35-33 Ashland lead. Woods followed moments later with a layup for a 37-33 lead. A free throw by Jamie Sobczak and a steal and layup by Woods made the score, 40-33 Ashland with 14:36 to go. Another Woods layup upped the lead to 42-33 18 seconds later.
After that, the Wildcats got no closer than seven points. With 7:50 to play Ashland was ahead, 75-42.
The Wildcats had a decided advantage in size and strength inside, but the Eagles put up a good fight against those attributes. NMU out-rebounded the Eagles, 45-34, but in points in the paint, NMU had just a 28-24 edge. The Eagles forced 19 turnovers, 13 in the second half.
Guard Alyssa Colla paced NMU with 10 points. Forward Abbey DeBruin had eight points and 11 rebounds and guard Lauren Gruber had nine points and nine rebounds.
The Eagles welcome Michigan Tech to Kates Gymnasium on Saturday (Jan. 11, 11:30 a.m.). Going into Thursday night, Tech and NMU shared first place in the GLIAC North. Both teams began the night 9-1 overall and 6-0 within the conference.
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