Box Score LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
On Dec. 7, Ashland University's women's basketball team played one of its closest games of 2019-20 at Ferris State, a 79-70 win.
The results weren't quite as close on Thursday (Jan. 30) night at Kates Gymnasium, as the No. 2-ranked Eagles routed the Bulldogs, 105-74, to move to 20-0 overall and 12-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference following the matchup of GLIAC division leaders.
"That is a very good team," Ashland head coach Kari Pickens said of Ferris State. "I am proud of our team. We took it to a very good team today."
Ferris State is 14-6, 8-4.
There was a significant milestone achieved on Thursday night, as senior guard Jodi Johnson became the fourth player in program history to score at least 2,000 career points.
"The fact that she's been able to score 2,000 points…that's really special, and a complete credit to the amount of hard work she's put in," Pickens said. "I'm really happy that she was able to accomplish that."
The two teams entered Thursday with the longest GLIAC women's basketball winning streaks – Ashland at 19 games, Ferris State with seven games. The Eagles (90.6 ppg.) and Bulldogs (79.6 ppg.) were the two highest-scoring teams in the conference coming into the night.
Ashland has an eight-game winning streak against the Bulldogs.
ASHLAND CONTINUING ITS TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
With the victory on Thursday, the Eagles have won at least 20 games in six consecutive seasons, eight of the last nine campaigns, and for the 11th time overall in program history.
CONTINUING TO TAKE CARE OF THE NORTH FRONTRUNNERS
Thursday's victory marks Ashland's fourth win in 2019-20 against a team which, at the time, was leading the GLIAC North Division – all in the month of January. It also happened in three previous road games – Jan. 2 vs. Northern Michigan, Jan. 4 vs. Michigan Tech and Jan. 18 vs. Parkside.
EAGLES COME OUT ON FIRE, BULLDOGS RESPOND
Ashland scored the game's first five points, but by the first media timeout, Ferris State had whittled the deficit down to three at 11-8. The Eagles found their shot from 3-point range coming out of the break, however, and senior point guard Renee Stimpert and sophomore guard Hallie Heidemann hit back-to-back triples en route to a 24-12 advantage through the first 10 minutes.
The Eagles scored nearly half (11) of their first-quarter points following six Bulldogs turnovers.
JOHNSON REACHES MILESTONE AS EAGLES SCORE 36 IN SECOND
Long-range shooting continued to allow Ashland to extend its lead early in the second period, but with 2:27 to go before halftime, Johnson earned her 2,000th career point on a layup. At the break, the Eagles led, 60-36, thanks to second-quarter shooting where they made all 10 free throws and 50 percent from the field.
Also in the second 10 minutes, Ashland outrebounded FSU, 14-6, and had eight assists on 11 made field goals.
FERRIS ATTEMPTS THIRD-QUARTER COMEBACK, BUT...
The Bulldogs scored the first six points of the third stanza, and went on a 9-1 run overall, to cut their deficit to 61-45. Ashland reestablished a 21-point lead at 75-54 later in the third on a Heidemann driving layup, and the Eagles went into the final quarter with a commanding 82-56 lead.
Ashland turned the ball over just one time in the third quarter.
THE SUMMARY
Both Johnson and Heidemann ended their nights with 21 points – Johnson going 7-of-12 from the field and 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and Heidemann 8-of-10 from the floor and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Johnson has 2,009 career points, six away from tying Andi Daugherty for third place on Ashland's all-time list.
"I want to thank God for bringing me here, even when I didn't know I wanted to play basketball," Johnson said. "I want to thank the coaches…for giving me the opportunity."
Six Eagles scored in double figures on Thursday night – Johnson, Heidemann, senior forward Sara Loomis (18), Stimpert (16), junior forward Karlee Pireu (15) and freshman forward Annie Roshak (10).
Ashland had 25 assists on 38 made baskets, and converted 18 FSU turnovers into 28 points.
"It's a credit to our defense," Pickens said. "I know that our girls have completely bought into the system of let's create havoc in the half-court."
The Eagles, who entered the night leading NCAA Division II with a field-goal percentage of 52.7 for the season, made 54.3 percent against the Bulldogs. Ashland also paces the country in 3-point field-goal percentage, making 45.3 percent prior to the game and 50 percent in the game.
UP NEXT – LAKE SUPERIOR STATE
Ashland's four-game home stand will come to an end on Saturday (Feb. 1) at 1 p.m. vs. Lake Superior State (6-13, 2-10). Saturday also is Faith Day at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles have defeated the Lakers 12 consecutive times, including 85-55 on Dec. 5 on the road.
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