No. 1-Ranked AU Women Move To 22-1 After Home League Win Over Cavaliers

It was business as usual for the No. 1-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team on Thursday (Feb. 15), as a 96-56 win over visiting Walsh improved the Eagles' 2023-24 record to 22-1 overall and 15-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
 
Thursday night's victory is Ashland's 14^th in a row, and 59^th in the last 60 games. It also is the Eagles' 44^th consecutive win in conference play, tournaments included.
 
"Three great quarters," said Ashland head coach Kari Pickens. "We have to stay sharper (in the fourth quarter). We told the team you have to celebrate every victory. I have the great joy of coaching a pretty elite team."

The Eagles also officially clinched a spot in the 2024 Great Midwest Tournament for the third time in three seasons in the conference.
 
Ashland had a 10-3 lead at the first-quarter media timeout – thanks in large part to Walsh (5-16, 3-12) having more turnovers (five) than shots attempted (three). The Eagle defense continued to put the clamps on the Cavaliers, and heading into the second period, AU led, 25-14.
 
By halftime, Ashland had nearly all cylinders clicking – and boasted a 52-24 advantage. While the Eagles shot 68.8 percent in the first half, and had 16 assists on 22 made field goals, they kept Walsh to 34.8 percent from the floor and forced 13 turnovers.
 
Also in the first 20 minutes, fifth-year forward Annie Roshak (16 points) and junior forward Zoe Miller (12 points) continued to do what they have done all season – being first and second, respectively, in the team's scoring column.
 
The Eagles led 71-31 through three quarters on the way to victory.
 
POST-GAME NUGGETS

• Roshak led all scorers with 22 points, and now has 2,231 in her AU career – 55 away from passing Laina Snyder (2,295 points) as the program's all-time leading scorer. Roshak also won her 100^th game as an Eagle starter.
• "Annie came back for her fifth year for a reason, and it wasn't to break a scoring record," Pickens said. "It was to help us win another national championship."
• Joining Roshak in double-figure scoring were Miller (16 points), junior forward Hayley Smith (16 points) and freshman guard Lexi Howe (10 points).
• Ashland made 61.7 percent from the field and 75.0 percent from the free-throw line. The Eagles also handed out 26 assists to 13 turnovers, and scored 30 points on 25 Cavalier turnovers.
• The Eagles have won 129 of 133 games as the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II, and 318 of 337 games as a ranked team in the nation.

 
UP NEXT
Saturday (Feb. 17) at 1 p.m. at Hillsdale (14-9, 10-5).