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3-15-24 WBB regional QF win vs. Drury
65
Drury Drury 25-7,18-4 GLVC
102
Winner Ashland AU 31-1,20-0 G-MAC
Drury Drury
25-7,18-4 GLVC
65
Final
102
Ashland AU
31-1,20-0 G-MAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Drury Drury 8 12 22 23 65
Ashland AU 26 18 25 33 102

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Dusty Sloan, Ashland University Director of Athletic Communications

No. 1 Eagle Women Open NCAA Postseason With Rout Of Panthers

To open the 2024 NCAA Division II postseason on Friday (March 15) afternoon at Grand Valley State, the No. 1-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team topped No. RV Drury, 102-65, in a Midwest Regional quarterfinal.
 
The Eagles (31-1) move on to the regional semifinal on Saturday (March 16) at 5 p.m. vs. No. 14 Ferris State (23-5) after winning their 23rd in a row overall, 68th of the last 69 overall, 71st in a row when leading at halftime, and 44th in a row in road/neutral-site games.

"It's March Madness, and we're thankful to be able to play another day," said Ashland head coach Kari Pickens. "I thought the first half really set the tone. We were able to do good things on both ends of the court.

"We're excited for a round two with them," Pickens said of the rematch with the Bulldogs, who dealt AU its only loss of 2023-24 to date. "Are they a great team? Absolutely. They're a very, very good opponent going into the second round. We're excited to see what we can do tomorrow."
 
Ashland's 102 points were the second-most in program history in an NCAA playoff game, behind the 104 scored against Hillsdale on March 9, 2018.
 
Friday's win moved Ashland to 3-2 all-time against Drury (25-7) in NCAA postseason play.
 
Ashland started the game with a 16-0 run, and finished the first quarter with a 26-8 advantage. By the break, the Eagle lead was extended to 44-20.
 
In the opening 20 minutes, Ashland kept Drury to 0-for-9 from 3-point range and 32.0 percent overall from the field – while on the other end, junior forward Zoe Miller scored 14 points in 12 minutes on the floor.
 
The Eagles outscored Drury 58-45 in the second half, and scored 33 points in the fourth quarter, to round out the victory.
 
POST-GAME NUGGETS
  • Miller paced all players in Friday's game with 21 points in 22 minutes, making 9-of-12 from the field to go with seven rebounds and two steals.
  • Fifth-year forward Annie Roshak posted 16 points in 20 minutes, and with 2,359 career points, moves into 24th place in NCAA D-II women's basketball history. Roshak also tied Hallie Heidemann for the most games played in AU women's basketball history with 153.
  • In addition to Miller and Roshak, senior guard Savaya Brockington (14 points, five rebounds, five assists), junior Hayley Smith (13 points, 9-of-10 free throws, four rebounds, five assists, two steals), and senior guard Macy Spielman (11 points, 5-of-6 shooting) also scored in double figures.
  • Ashland finished the day with 21 assists to 11 turnovers, en route to a field-goal percentage of 55.2. The Eagles also made 18-of-22 from the free-throw line.
  • Drury turned the ball over 18 times, resulting in 26 AU points.
  • The Eagles improve to 138-4 as the No. 1-ranked team in D-II, and 327-19 as a ranked team in D-II.
 
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