The No. 1-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team had to fight to finish the regular season at 27-1 overall and a perfect 20-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, beating Findlay, 72-67, on Saturday (March 2) afternoon at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
"A ton of credit to Findlay in that performance. I thought they played really tough, really gritty," said Ashland head coach
Kari Pickens, "and they pushed us to our limits. But I was really proud of our team's fight down the end stretch to come out with a big win."
In the course of the victory, fifth-year forward
Annie Roshak became the player with the most career points in Ashland women's basketball history, as her 17 points put her at 2,312.
"Annie's been a really special player in this program, this community," Pickens said. "And I am thankful for the five years I've had the privilege of coaching her."
One minute and 32 seconds into the game, Roshak broke her tie with
Laina Snyder (2,295 career points) to become the Ashland program's all-time leading scorer. At the first-quarter media timeout, however, it was the Oilers (14-14, 10-10) with a 15-13 lead.
The opening period ended tied at 21, as Findlay made 8-of-12 from the field, while Ashland was 8-of-20.
An old-fashioned 3-point play from senior guard
Macy Spielman put the Eagles up 31-29 just outside of the five-minute mark of the second half. The Oilers didn't go away, and when the two teams went into the locker room for halftime, Ashland had a 42-39 advantage.
A very clean first 20 minutes saw the Eagles turn the ball over just twice, and Findlay just six times. Ashland had 14 assists on 16 field goals, but hit 42.1 percent from the floor.
Ashland kept the Oilers off the scoreboard for the first 2:49 of the second half, helping the Eagles to a 48-42 lead with 5:03 to go in the third quarter. Its biggest lead of the game through the third was six points, but AU's advantage going into the fourth quarter was all of four points at 53-49.
With 4:54 left in regulation, the final media timeout of the game saw the Eagles with a 59-57 lead. Out of that break, Roshak hit two free throws to extend the lead to four points, then freshman guard
Lexi Howe put AU back ahead by four with a triple at 66-62.
Going into the last 90 seconds, Ashland led, 68-65. An Eagle turnover gave Findlay the ball with a chance to tie and 33.2 seconds left on the clock. With 18.7 ticks to go, the Oilers went to the line, making both for a one-point separation.
Roshak was fouled with 16.9 seconds left, and she made both charity tosses to allow Ashland to regain a three-point lead at 70-67. Findlay's tying trey attempt missed the mark, and with 3.3 seconds left, Howe made both free throws to clinch the victory.
Ashland has a 19-game overall winning streak, and has won 64 of its last 65 games. The Eagles have been victorious 49 straight times within the Great Midwest, including tournaments.
POST-GAME NUGGETS
- Ashland's five seniors – Roshak, Spielman and guards Savaya Brockington, Erin Daniels and Molly Dever – were honored in pre-game.
- "It's been so fun to coach this team, and I think our seniors have led that charge in that," Pickens said. "They will be missed whenever they are done, but our hope is we're not anywhere close to being done yet."
- In addition to Roshak, who also added 10 rebounds, both junior forward Zoe Miller (15 points, eight rebounds) and Howe (13 points, six rebounds) also scored in double figures.
- Ashland dished out 20 assists on 26 made field goals, and defensively, kept Findlay to 38.1 percent from the field in the last three quarters.
- Saturday's victory was the Eagles' 12th in a row against the Oilers.
- Ashland is 134-4 all-time as the No. 1-ranked team in NCAA Division II, and 323-19 all-time as a ranked team in D-II.
UP NEXT
A first-round 2024 Great Midwest Tournament game at home on Tuesday (March 5) at 5:30 p.m. - against Findlay once again.
