No. 2 AU Women Return Home, Stay In First Place In League With Win Over Trojans

Playing at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium for the first time in a month, the No. 2-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team topped Trevecca Nazarene, 82-61.
 
The Eagles, who remain alone in first place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, improve to 15-1 overall and 8-0 in the league. The Trojans are 8-7, 4-4.
 
"Getting a win in the G-MAC, especially at home, it's always huge," said Ashland assistant coach Jenna Kotas. "It's just setting us up for (potentially) hosting the G-MAC Tournament, but also establishing our seeding for the NCAA Tournament."
 
Ashland, which earned all-time victory No. 950, won its seventh straight game on Thursday night, and has won 52 of its last 53 contests. The Eagles also have won 37 consecutive games within the Great Midwest (including tournaments).
 
Fifth-year forward Annie Roshak moved into third place on Ashland's all-time scoring list after posting 20 points. Roshak now has 2,096 career points as an Eagle.
 
The Trojans led 9-5, but the Eagles pulled even at 11-11 at the first-quarter media timeout. Thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-point field goal by fifth-year guard Erin Daniels, Ashland went into the second quarter leading 25-18.
 
A fast-break layup from senior guard Macy Spielman forced a Trojan timeout, with the Eagles sporting a 35-27 lead. Ashland's game-high lead was 11 points at 38-27, but by halftime, the Trevecca Nazarene deficit was whittled down to 38-35.
 
Ashland started to assert itself to begin the third quarter, and took a 50-39 lead on a Daniels corner triple, her third trey of the game. That advantage was extended to 56-39 on Daniels' fourth 3-pointer, forcing another Trojan stoppage.
 
The Eagles outscored Trevecca by a 29-12 count in the third quarter, and took a 67-47 lead into the game's final 10 minutes.
 
"We played defense," Kotas said of the third period, "both one-on-one and team defense. We challenged them with just our defensive intensity and principles, and that's what we're holding them accountable for. We need to make sure we have lock-down defense the whole 40 minutes."
 
POST-GAME NUGGETS

• Three Eagles scored in double figures – Roshak, Daniels (12 points) and senior guard Savaya Brockington (11 points).
• Of Daniels, Kotas said, "Four-for-seven from three, that's a high percentage, and that's what Erin does best. She brings that experience from a playing perspective and a coaching perspective. She has a lot of tools in her belt that help us win games."
• AU had 25 assists on 32 made field goals, and hit 47.8 percent from the field. The Eagles also hit 15 3-pointers in the victory.
• Ashland is 7-0 against the Trojans since joining the Great Midwest, and has beaten Trevecca five times since Dec. 19, 2022.
• The Eagles have played 330 games all-time as a ranked team in NCAA Division II, and have won 311 of those. Ashland also is 59-3 as the No. 2 team in the nation.

 
UP NEXT
A second straight home game on Saturday (Jan. 20) at 1 p.m. vs. Cedarville.