Continuing to inch closer to a third consecutive Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season title, the No. 1-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team used a strong second half to defeat Ohio Dominican, 101-72, on Saturday (Feb. 10) at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles are 21-1 overall and 14-0 in the conference, and the Panthers are 6-17, 3-12. Since Feb. 3, 2011, Ashland is 21-0 against ODU.
"We're going to celebrate win No. 21. We had an incredibly efficient offensive game," said Ashland head coach
Kari Pickens. "There were a lot of positive things. Today was one of the best atmospheres that we've had this season. It definitely felt like tournament time."
Ashland's win on Saturday was its 13
th consecutively, its 58
th in the last 59 games, and 43
rd in a row in league play, including tournaments.
In posting triple-digit points for the fourth time in 2023-24, the Eagles outscored the Panthers 56-34 in the final two quarters.
The Panthers scored the game's first six points, but the Eagles worked it to an 8-8 tie, then at 10-10 tie before an ODU stoppage. Ashland trailed 15-10, 17-12 and 19-14, but at the end of the first 10 minutes, it was a 24-23 Eagle lead – thanks to junior forward
Zoe Miller's put-back at the buzzer, and 12 points in the period.
Ohio Dominican re-took the lead in the second quarter at 31-28, but Ashland was in the bonus from the 4:41 mark to the end of the half. By halftime, the Eagles had their biggest lead of the game at 45-38 – following a first half which featured a combined 26 fouls and 27 free-throw attempts.
Miller had 19 points in 16 first-half minutes on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor.
Freshman guard
Lexi Howe gave AU its first five points of the third quarter to make it a 50-43 game, then junior forward
Hayley Smith's put-back lifted the Eagles to a double-digit lead for the first time at 56-45.
ODU, however, turned that 11-point deficit into a four-point deficit in short order. That 7-0 run was halted by 3-pointers from fifth-year forward
Annie Roshak and Miller, putting the Eagles ahead 62-52.
With 10 minutes remaining, Ashland led 69-52 thanks to a period-ending 13-0 run.
POST-GAME NUGGETS
- Miller had her second strong game as a starter this week, finishing with a career-high 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting to go with nine rebounds.
- Smith added 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting and nine boards, while Roshak was a perfect 7-of-7 from the field for 16 points. Roshak is up to 2,209 career points, as she continues to chase Laina Snyder (2,295) for the all-time program lead.
- The Eagles made 60.9 percent from the field and 8-of-20 from 3-point range. AU recorded 26 assists on 39 made field goals, and had a decided 41-22 rebounding advantage.
- Ashland moves to 128-4 as the No. 1-ranked team in NCAA Division III, and 317-19 as a ranked team in D-II.
UP NEXT
Ashland will remain at home to play another Great Midwest game on Thursday (Feb. 15) at 5:30 p.m. against Walsh (5-15, 3-11).
