CANTON, Ohio – On Saturday (Feb. 19) afternoon, the No. 2-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team returned to form in an 83-55 victory over Malone.
The Eagles, coming off an 83-76 overtime home loss to Walsh on Thursday (Feb. 17) night, improve to 23-2 overall and 18-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The Pioneers are 12-11, 8-9.
"It was a complete basketball game," said Ashland head coach
Kari Pickens. "I was really proud of our team. Every single person who stepped on to the court was ready for their opportunity, and capitalized on it.
"I thought we took a step forward today."
Ashland continues to lead the Great Midwest by a half-game over Walsh entering the final week of the regular season.
The Eagles have won seven straight meetings with Malone.
WHAT HAPPENED
- It didn't take long for senior forward Karlee Pireu to get into the action, scoring AU's first seven points in the game's first two minutes. The Eagles had a 7-4 lead halfway through the first quarter, but the Pioneers went up 10-9 on a 3-pointer.
- After the first 10 minutes, Ashland led 23-15 following a last-second 30-foot triple from junior forward Annie Roshak. Roshak and Pireu each had seven points in the opening stanza, while senior guard Hallie Heidemann collected four points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
- Ashland had a 31-21 advantage halfway through the second period, as the Eagles forced four Malone turnovers in the first five minutes. A late 8-0 run helped AU go into the locker room ahead by a 41-25 lead.
- In the opening half, the Eagles took advantage of 10 Pioneer turnovers, scoring 13 points. Freshman forward Hayley Smith came off the bench and nearly had a double-double (eight points, seven rebounds).
- Ashland left no doubt of the outcome to start the third quarter, outscoring Malone 16-8 to start and make the lead 24 points at 57-33. The Eagles led 67-43 after three, and went on to victory from there.
THE WRAP-UP
- Pireu posted her third consecutive 20-plus-point game on Saturday, ending with a game-high 20 on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. She also had five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
- Roshak followed with 18 points, also on 8-of-12 from the floor, and five rebounds and three assists.
- Sophomore guard Macy Spielman and freshman forward Hayley Smith each added 10 points, as Ashland finished with four players in double-digit scoring. Smith also grabbed seven rebounds in 17 minutes.
- "They finished strong inside," Pickens said. "It was really good team basketball."
- Ashland shot 47.4 percent from the field, had 23 assists to just seven turnovers, and had a 41-31 rebounding advantage.
- "We took care of the ball, (and) we took high-percentage shots," Pickens said. "We were able to put together a really good basketball game."
- The Eagles also forced 19 turnovers, turning them into 23 points.
UP NEXT
Three more games in the last week of the regular season, starting on Wednesday (Feb. 23) at 5:30 p.m. vs. Findlay at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
AU
WBKB/DS
