New-Look Eagle Women Open Season With Home Win

The names and faces change, but for Ashland University's women's basketball team, the results remain the same.
 
In a matchup of the two teams chosen to win their respective Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference divisions in 2020-21 on Friday (Jan. 8), the Eagles opened the new campaign with a 79-55 win over Ferris State at Kates Gymnasium.
 
"I was really proud of our team for putting things together," said Ashland head coach Kari Pickens. "We came out, and I thought we put together a really strong performance on both ends of the court. We really stuck to our principles, and I think offensively, we shared the ball. We took high-percentage shots, and we played Ashland basketball for the majority of the game, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here."
 
Ashland extended the following win streaks on Friday – now 47 in a row in the month of January, 36 in a row in the regular season, 34 in the GLIAC (regular-season and postseason), and 22 in a row at The Kates.
 
EAGLES PULL AWAY IN FIRST QUARTER
At the first media timeout of the game, Ashland led 15-5, as senior forward Karlee Pireu scored seven points, and junior guard Sophia Fortner six, in the first five minutes. The Eagles went into second period leading 22-7, as junior forward Kayla Sanders nearly had as many rebounds in the first stanza (six) as the Bulldogs did (seven).
 
ASHLAND'S KEEPS BULLDOGS AT ARM'S LENGTH AT THE BREAK
The Eagles scored six quick points to extend their advantage to 28-7 before Ferris State called a timeout at the 7:19 mark. By halftime, Ashland's lead was the same as it was 10 minutes of game time prior – 15 points – at 40-25.
 
And the difference in shooting were stark – Ashland made 63 percent from the field in the first half, while FSU made 33.3 percent.
 
EAGLES LEAVE FERRIS STATE BEHIND IN THIRD
Outscoring Ferris State 14-4 in the first half of the third quarter, Ashland moved to a 25-point lead at 54-29. The Eagles made six of their first eight shots from the floor.
By the end of the third, AU's advantage was 65-35, and the rest of the game was academic.
 
THE SUMMARY
Pireu ended the night with a career-high 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-5 from the foul line, while junior guard Hallie Heidemann (14) and Fortner (13) also scored in double figures. Fortner's point total also was a career high.
 
"I feel like, with our offense, we score the ball well when we get transition to inside-out looks, and that only happens when we have great 3-point shooters and great post players, and this team has that," Pireu said.
 
Stepping in for her first collegiate start, Sanders finished with six points and team-highs of eight rebounds and six assists – all three categories being career highs. Sanders helped the Eagles to 20 assists as a team in the opener.
 
"She did a great job," Pickens said. "She stepped up, and was confident and ready to go. I was so happy for her. She played really, really well."
 
Said Heidemann, "So excited for her. I've watched her transform from freshman to now a junior, and I've seen all the work that she's put in."
 
Ashland shot 62.7 percent from the floor, 46.7 percent from beyond the arc and 8-of-11 from the foul line, while Ferris State was limited to 40 percent from the field and 2-of-13 from downtown.
 
UP NEXT – EAGLES/BULLDOGS, ROUND TWO
Ashland and Ferris State will face off again on Saturday (Jan. 9) at 4 p.m. at Kates Gymnasium.

Based on the current COVID-19 climate, and in order to best protect institutions' ability to compete safely in GLIAC contests, the GLIAC COPC has adopted the COVID-19 Task Force recommendation that events will be held without spectators, bands, mascots, cheer teams and promotional activities. GLIAC administrators will continue to monitor and evaluate the COVID climate, and will make future determinations for fans and spectators at a later date.