OPENING TIP: Ashland University's women's basketball team is back in the NCAA Division II postseason - and will begin the playoffs against a very familiar foe. The Eagles are 14-8 and coming off a seventh consecutive appearance in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship game. They are 8-3 in their last 11 games heading into the 2021 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, starting on Friday (March 12) at 6 p.m. Central/7 p.m. East against GLIAC rival Grand Valley State (14-5) in Springfield, Mo. Michigan Tech (20-1), the region's top seed, will play the winner of Ashland-GVSU on Saturday (March 13). No. 2 Drury (20-1) on Saturday will play the winner of Friday's Truman (16-4)-Northwood (11-8) matchup.
The Eagles and Lakers have an extensive history, particularly in the last five seasons (2016-17 to 2020-21). This will be the 15th time Ashland and Grand Valley State have faced off since Dec. 19, 2016, and the Eagles have won 10 of the previous 14 contests. Since losing twice at the Lakers early in 2020-21 to begin at 2-2, the Eagles are 12-6 in their last 18 games.
Ashland won the NCAA Division II national championship in both 2013 and 2017, and was the national runner-up in both 2012 and 2018. This is the program's 11th D-II postseason appearance (2004, 2006, 2012-13, 2015-21), and AU has an all-time postseason record of 26-7. That .788 winning percentage is the best in D-II history among programs with at least 30 games played.
Over the last 10 seasons, the Eagles' record is 291-35 (.893).
A 48-team field (the top six teams from each of eight regions), the 2021 NCAA Division II tournament will begin on Friday, continue on Saturday, and each regional championship game will be on Monday (March 15). The 2021 NCAA Division II Elite Eight will be March 23-26 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
REVISITING ROSHAK'S 40: Sophomore forward Annie Roshak scored 40 points in the 93-74 GLIAC Tournment semifinal victory over Parkside, hitting 17-of-22 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. It was two points shy of the school record of 42, set by AU Hall of Famer Amber Rall vs. Mercyhurst on Jan. 6, 2007. It also is tied for the fourth-most points scored in an NCAA Division II women's basketball game this season.
ROSHAK SCORING POINTS AT IMPRESSIVE PACE: With three 30-plus-point games this season, Roshak has the most such games for any Eagle in a single season since current graduate assistant coach Jodi Johnson had three in 2017-18.
ANOTHER LOOK AT CHABLE'S RECORD NIGHT: Sophomore guard Sam Chable made the Eagles' final game at Kates Gymnasium this season a memorable one, as, in their 81-41 rout of Purdue Northwest to open the GLIAC Tournament on March 2, Chable set a new tournament record, and tied the school standard, with nine 3-point field goals. Taylor Woods originally set the Ashland mark vs. Indianapolis on Nov. 17, 2013. That number of treys also ties for the second-most in a D-II women's hoops game in 2020-21.
PIREU HAS HER SIGHTS SET ON NO. 19: Now in the No. 20 position on Ashland's all-time scoring list, senior forward Karlee Pireu (1,166 career points) isn't far away from No. 19, Maddie Dackin (1,176). No. 18 is Gail Wasmus with 1,200 career points.
MAKING THEM PAY AT THE LINE: The Eagles continue to be the Division II pacesetter in free-throw percentage, making 82.2 percent for the season. The next-best team at the Midwest Regional from the charity stripe is Michigan Tech at 76.7.
DANIELS CRASHING THE BOARDS: Coming off the bench and listed at 5-foot-8, junior guard Erin Daniels seems to have a knack for rebounding. In the last six games, Daniels is averaging 5.2 boards per game, in addition to making each of her last 12 free throws dating back to Feb. 16.
FANS AND SPECTATORS: Information for fans and spectators, including how to purchase tickets, can be found at https://drurypanthers.com/sports/2021/3/2/2021-womens-basketball-midwest-regional-faqs.aspx?path=wbball.
