No. 1 Eagle Women Pull Away From ODU Late, Move To 21-1

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).