Prior to Tuesday (Nov. 26) night, the No. 10-ranked Union (Tenn.) women's basketball team had the second-best scoring average in NCAA Division II at 93.6 points per game.
Ashland University's women's basketball team didn't care.
On Tuesday night at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, the No. 14-ranked Eagles kept the Bulldogs to 42 points – 51.6 points below their season average – in a 68-42 win, improving their early-season record to 6-2.
"I do think it's a combination. I don't think they shot the ball particularly well," said Ashland head coach
Kari Pickens, whose team was playing a third consecutive nationally-ranked opponent. "I do think that was a little bit of a factor, but I don't want to take anything away from my team, either. I thought, defensively, they were absolutely lights out."
The Eagles kept Union (4-2) off the board for the game's first 5:02, while also forcing five turnovers. Ashland led 5-2 at that point, then senior forward
Zoe Miller scored her 1,000
th and 1,001
st points as an Eagle (29
th player to do it at AU) for a 7-2 AU advantage.
"The fact that she already had her 1,000
th collegiate point (between Bowling Green and Ashland), and then she had 1,000 at Ashland," Pickens said. "That's incredible. What she's been able to do in our program, not many people have been able to do what she's been able to do.
"She's a special, special player."
After one quarter, the Eagles led 9-5 – as the Bulldogs made just 2-of-10 from the field.
Back-to-back triples from senior guard
Morgan Yoder and freshman point guard
Ashley Mullet early in the second period were negated by two Union treys – and left AU still leading by four at 15-11. That lead moved to 22-11 after graduate guard
Lydia Sweeney scored five points in a row.
The Eagles' biggest lead in the first half was the halftime lead of 33-17, and the reason was simple, if not simple to execute:
- Union made 6-of-24 (25 percent) from the field.
- Ashland forced 10 turnovers.
- The Bulldogs went the last 2:33 of the first half scoreless.
- Union's previous low point total in half so far in 2024-25 was 25.
Ashland's first 20-plus-point lead came early in the third quarter at 38-17 following a put-back from senior forward
Sarah McKee. The Eagles ended up scoring the first eight points of the third, but the Bulldogs responded with an 8-0 run to cut their deficit to 16 points.
When the third quarter ended, Ashland led 51-32. That lead grew to 30 points at 68-38 inside of the three-minute mark of the fourth.
MORE ABOUT THE DEFENSE…AND THE REST OF THE STORY
- The Eagles kept the Bulldogs to 30.9-percent shooting from the field and 3-of-17 from 3-point range.
- Union's previous season-low point total was 60.
- Ashland also was able to beat Union's press most of the night, despite 21 turnovers.
- "I know we had 21 turnovers. It didn't feel like it," Pickens said. "Our press attack was great. I do feel pretty confident with our game plan to attack a press."
- Said Yoder, "Just our defensive discipline. Even if we don't have the offensive night that we did, still holding them to well below their average. And then just being back in Kates is so fun."
- Three Eagles finished in double-digit scoring – Mullet (14 points), McKee (11) and Miller (10).
- Said Mullet, "It feels really good. The atmosphere is so good. The fans are just so encouraging. It gives us a lot of momentum and a lot of motivation."
- Ashland out-rebounded Union by a 40-28 count, while making 53.1 percent from the field and 11-of-25 from beyond the 3-point arc.
- Of Miller, fellow Berlin Hiland High School grads Yoder and Mullet were excited for their once and current teammate.
- "It's so awesome to see," Yoder said. "Zoe and I have grown up playing basketball since about fourth grade. Just getting to celebrate her success is so special."
- Said Mullet, "I've always looked up to Zoe, and Morgan. Getting to see that is really encouraging, and it's awesome to play with her."
UP NEXT
The beginning of Great Midwest Athletic Conference play on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. at Northwood.
