Ashland University's women's basketball team was strong on both ends of the floor on Friday (Feb. 12) at Kates Gymnasium, earning an 80-49 win over Purdue Northwest in its next-to-last home game of the 2020-21 regular season.
The Eagles improve to 7-5 overall and in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Pride are 3-9, 3-9.
"I was really proud of our team's effort from start to finish," said Ashland head coach
Kari Pickens. "I thought we came out with a ton of energy to start the game, which was great to see. In past games, we've been up and down, and I didn't think we were up and down tonight."
Ashland shot 56.1 percent from the field, and had 21 assists on 32 made field goals, while keeping PNW to 34.5 percent from the floor.
EAGLES PASS, SHOOT THEIR WAY TO BIG SCORING FIRST
The Eagles used the inside-out game to their advantage early on, with back-to-back 3-point field goals from junior guard
Hallie Heidemann and freshman guard
Sydney Jacobsen pulling AU ahead 6-0. The scoring slowed down, and at the first-quarter media timeout, Ashland led, 16-10.
After one period, the Eagles led 25-14, and offensively, they were clicking to the tune of 10-of-17 from the field, 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, and eight assists from six different players.
ROSHAK, HEIDEMANN COMBINE FOR 28 AS AU LEADS AT HALF
Ashland extended its lead in the second quarter, running it up to 18 points at 37-21 with 4:43 left. The Pride, however, went on an 8-2 spurt to end the first half, leaving the Eagles with a 39-29 halftime advantage.
Sophomore forward
Annie Roshak had 18 points and seven rebounds in the first two quarters, and Heidemann also already was in double-digit scoring with 10 points. Purdue Northwest turned the ball over nine times in the first half, resulting in 12 AU points.
EAGLES SEAL VICTORY IN SECOND HALF
The Eagles kept the Pride at arm's length in the third quarter, and a late-period surge allowed them to go into the fourth up 57-40. Then, a 12-0 run leading into the final media timeout had Ashland ahead 71-44.
THE SUMMARY
Roshak finished with a game-high 26 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, Heidemann added 19 points, and senior forward
Karlee Pireu chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds – leaving her at 981 career points.
"The guards got me the ball really well," Roshak said. "It goes back to our team basketball. We love scoring in transition, so that was big today."
Friday marked the collegiate debuts of Eagle freshman guards
Makenna Geiser and
Halle Landies. Geiser had seven points in 15 minutes, and Landies had a steal in two minutes.
"I was really, really happy that they were both able to get on the court tonight," Pickens said. "I was very proud of Makenna. I thought she came in and played with a lot of confidence and assertiveness. We're very, very excited to get her back on the court."
For the Pride, Danielle Nennig led the way with a dozen points.
NEXT UP – THE 2020-21 REGULAR-SEASON HOME FINALE
Ashland and Purdue Northwest will face off again on Saturday (Feb. 13) at 4 p.m. at "The Kates."
AU
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