No. 2 Ashland Tops Trojans, Goes Into Christmas Break At 12-0

In a rare Monday (Dec. 19) afternoon game at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, the No. 2-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team defeated Trevecca Nazarene, 83-50, to move to a 12-0 start for the sixth time since 2012-13.
 
The Eagles also are 6-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and are alone in first place in the league.
 
"I love this team," said Ashland head coach Kari Pickens. "I love how together they are, I love how bought in to reaching our goals every game that they are. We've grown a lot in the 12 games that we've played."
 
With the loss, the Trojans go to 6-6, 3-3.
 
Ashland entered the day as one of only eight remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division II women's basketball.
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• Ashland ran out to a 14-2 advantage in a little more than four minutes to open the game, as sophomore forward Hayley Smith already had collected five points and four rebounds. By the time the first period came to an end, the Eagles led 23-10, as the Trojans were kept to 4-of-16 from the field.
• The Eagles used the long-range shot to pull away from Trevecca further to end the first half, as they made four 3-point field goal down the stretch to take a 43-19 lead into halftime. Ashland had a 28-11 rebounding advantage after the first 20 minutes, and turned the ball over just five times.
• In the first two quarters, the Eagles took 25 3-point attempts (making eight), and was 7-of-9 from inside the arc.
• Ashland went up by 31 points at 59-28 with 2:16 left in the third quarter, led 64-35 after three, and went on to victory from there – but it wasn't perfect.
• "I believe that championship teams hold themselves to high standards, no matter what the score," Pickens said. "I thought that there were too many lapses that championship teams can't afford to make in big games. I want to make sure I'm holding them to the same standard, no matter what the score is. We want to continue to work toward putting a full 40 minutes together."

 
THE WRAP-UP

• Four Eagles scored in double figures – fifth-year guard Hallie Heidemann (14 points), junior guard Macy Spielman (12), junior guard Savaya Brockington (11) and sophomore forward Zoe Miller (10). Heidemann added seven rebounds and four steals.
• The Eagles out-rebounded the Trojans by a 43-31 margin (Smith had a game-high 10 boards), and scored 20 points off 18 Trevecca turnovers.
• Ashland is 182-13 (.933) in its last 195 home games.
• The Eagles are 51-3 (.944) all-time as the No. 2-ranked team in D-II.
• Ashland has won its last 23 December contests.

 
UP NEXT
Ashland will be back on the court in 10 days, staying at home to take on Michigan Tech (10-2) on Kids Night on Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m..