Box Score A game like the one Ashland University's women's basketball team won Tuesday (Nov. 25) night very well could be looked back upon as the jumping-off point to a very successful season.
The Eagles opened the home portion of the 2014-15 schedule in impressive fashion, toppling fifth-ranked Gannon, 80-73. Ashland now is 2-2 heading into the Thanksgiving break, and Gannon is 3-1.
Tuesday's game was a rematch of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight game in 2013 which the Eagles won, 74-63. Asked if this win was the program's biggest since the 2013 national title game, Ashland head coach Sue Ramsey said, "It ranks right up there, because they were the fifth-ranked team in the country, and we only had two (players tonight) that were on that (championship) team.
"It's a huge win. Two things happened tonight – our young ones grew up, and our team grew up."
Gannon's biggest lead was a 19-10 margin with 8:45 to go until halftime. The Eagles then went on a 15-4 run to take a 25-23 lead late in the first half on a layup by sophomore guard Alex Henning. Ashland was down 28-27 in the waning moments of the first half before sophomore forward Suzy Wollenhaupt's last-second layup put AU ahead 29-28 at the break.
Ashland broke the game's 14th and final tie inside of the three-minute mark of the second half when freshman forward Andi Daugherty's layup put the Eagles up for good. Ashland then hit its final 10 free throws (after starting the game 13-for-19) to help seal the victory.
"For me personally, that's something I want us to take a lot of pride in," Ramsey said of free-throw shooting. "When the pressure was on is when we hit them."
Daugherty earned her second collegiate double-double in just four games, scoring a career-high 20 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
"We just played tough," said Daugherty. "The coaches put that in our minds all week. We executed very well. We grew up a lot in this game."
Wollenhaupt (15), senior guard Taylor Woods (11) and sophomore guard Kelsey Peare (10) also scored in double figures. Ramsey said sophomore guard Rachelle Morrison played her best game as an Eagle following an eight-point, seven-assist and four-rebound effort.
"Any time anybody went in (to the game), she made a positive contribution," Ramsey said.
Ashland will begin Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play next week with its second and third consecutive home games – Thursday, Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. against Grand Valley State, and Saturday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. against Ferris State.
"It's a good way to start the home stretch," said Ramsey.
Added Daugherty, "Beating a ranked team is big. Our goal is to not lose on this floor."
NOTES: Woods now has 1,052 points, good for 16th on Ashland's all-time scoring list. Next up, former teammate Alyssa Miller in the 15th spot (1,065)…The Eagles have been led in rebounds each game by true freshman forwards – Daugherty three times and Laina Snyder once…In Ramsey's 20 seasons at Ashland, the Eagles have been 2-2 or better after four games 19 times.
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