No. 5 AU Women Rout Panthers In 2024-25 Home Opener

The Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium magic was there for the No. 5-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team from the start of the 2024-25 home opener on Friday (Nov. 15) night.
 
Ashland (4-1) topped Davenport (0-3), 91-43, on Friday to not only improve to 11-0 all-time vs. the Panthers, but also record win No. 211 in the last 225 games (.938) at "The Kates."
 
"It was a really fun game," said Ashland head coach Kari Pickens. "I thought that, offensively, we'd struggled a little bit the first couple of games of the year, and tonight, I didn't see a struggle. I saw great passing, I saw great movement, I saw shot-ready and confident players.
 
"Defensively, I've been pleased all year with where we've been."
 
The two teams started out trading baskets, and the Panthers led 10-8 at the game's first media timeout. A first quarter which featured four lead changes and five tie scores ended with a 22-14 Eagle advantage  - thanks to a 10-1 run which ended with a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer by sophomore guard Gia Casalinova.
 
Davenport called timeout less than two minutes into the second period, as the Eagles increased their lead to 13 points at 29-16. By halftime, Ashland's lead was 30 points (50-20), as both inside (39 points combined from senior forwards Zoe Miller, Sarah McKee and Hayley Smith) and outside (6-of-11 from 3-point range) were on point.
 
The highlight of the second half was graduate guard Lydia Sweeney's 1,000^th career collegiate point (Cedarville and Ashland combined) early in the third quarter. The Eagles led 70-30 through three quarters, and went on to victory from there.
 
TURNING DEFENSE INTO OFFENSE…AND THE REST OF THE STORY

• Ashland finished the night with 29 points off 23 Davenport turnovers.
• Miller ended with 18 points, McKee a career-high 17 and Smith 12 (to go with 11 rebounds) – as the three AU forwards combined for 47 points, 17 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals and three blocks.
• "I think it's just fun to play whatever role I've had on this team," McKee said. "I take any opportunity I can to give it all to my teammates. I think we've been playing super-well together, and starting to put all our pieces together."
• Said Pickens, "I'm not surprised. I've seen it every day for so long. Honestly, she needed to be given the opportunity to do it. She's stepped up and been playing huge for us all year, and I'm so excited for her to be able to step into that role as a senior."
• Ashland made 61.3 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from 3-point range. The Eagles dished out 26 assists on 38 made baskets.
• All 11 active Eagles played and scored on Friday night.

UP NEXT
The start of another road trip on Thursday (Nov. 21) at 6 p.m. at No. 3 Grand Valley State (6-0).
 
"We're excited about it," Pickens said. "We are ready. I thought tonight was a great boost for us. They are a really good basketball team, but I have confidence in our girls that they will go up and take care of business."