Box Score It was quite a night for Ashland University women's basketball head coach Sue Ramsey.
Prior to Thursday (Feb. 19) night's game at Kates Gymnasium against Ohio Dominican, Ramsey was honored for her 20 seasons on the Eagle bench. Then, once the ball was tipped, Ramsey's team honored her with an 81-61 victory over the Panthers.
Ashland now is 19-7 overall and 15-5 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while ODU is 8-17, 5-14. The Eagles have won 17 of their last 20 games overall, and 15 of their last 18 in the GLIAC, and maintain their spot as the GLIAC Tournament's No. 3 seed.
"Basically, I'm just honored and humbled and grateful for the fans that were here, for the program itself – (Director of Athletics) Al (King) and (Director of Sports Marketing and Promotions) Rachel O'Connor putting together just a tremendous program – and the people that came to be here tonight and spoke," Ramsey said. "I thought (ODU head coach and former AU player and assistant coach) Lynsey Warren just did a phenomenal job in what she said. It's a lot of emotions, it's a lot of hugs, and I guess that's my trademark.
"The best part of this profession and what I've been blessed to be able to do over the years is about the relationships. When it comes down to it, it's all about the people. This is tremendous place that's been so good to me."
Senior guard Taylor Woods seemingly was all over the floor for Ashland, scoring a game-high 23 points and adding seven rebounds, four assists and five steals. Thanks in large part to her 6-for-8 effort from the 3-point line, Woods moved into fifth place on AU's all-time scoring list at 1,382 points. She now needs just 33 points to pass former teammate and current assistant coach Kari (Daugherty) Pickens (1,414).
"She is playing like you hope your senior co-captain would play down the stretch her senior year," Ramsey said. "She has a level of toughness about her now, a mental toughness, a physical toughness that's just outstanding. You've always known that Taylor can put the ball in the basket, but she is just playing a complete game. She's leading by example, she's leading verbally and then she's leading by her play. I thought her defense was tremendous tonight."
Freshman forward Andi Daugherty had 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while fellow rookie post Laina Snyder added 14 points, five boards and four steals. Sophomore guard Kelsey Peare added four points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, while junior guard McKenzie Miller had a career-high nine assists to go with six points.
Ashland shot 55.2 percent from the field, including a stellar 66.7 percent (18-of-27) in the second half. The Eagles also had a 40-31 rebounding edge, and turned 19 ODU turnovers into 21 points. AU kept the Panthers to just 37.7-percent shooting from the floor and 31.3-percent shooting from beyond the arc.
The Eagles will play their final regular-season home game of 2014-15 on Saturday (Feb. 21) against Tiffin at 1 p.m. It will be Senior Day, when Woods, the team's lone senior, will be honored.
NOTES: Ashland now is 11-2 at home this season, has won 10 straight at Kates Gymnasium and is 68-10 (.872) at home in the last five seasons…The Eagles have been led or co-led by a freshman in rebounding in 28 consecutive games…Ashland is 18-1 when leading at the half, and 13-0 when having fewer turnovers than its opponent, this season.
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