Women’s Basketball To Open 2024-25 At D2CCA Tip-Off Classic

Ashland University's women's basketball team is going to get an early start to the 2024-25 season, as the Eagles will play two games at the 2024 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Tip-Off Classic in St. Joseph, Mo., on Nov. 2-3.
 
The Eagles will start the new campaign on Nov. 2 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern/3:30 p.m. local vs. Northwest Missouri State, then take on Missouri Southern on Nov. 3 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern/3:30 p.m. local.
 
"It's an exemption tournament, so we will end up playing 30 regular-season games," noted Ashland head coach Kari Pickens. "You are usually allowed only 26, however, we are in a crossover tournament, which is allowed to be exempt. For us, it's just a huge benefit to be able to play that many games.
 
"That's going to be really nice to be able to get going (earlier) with the team. We have a really new team. A lot of players have never been out there before. The last time we went out there was for an Elite Eight and a Final Four (in 2023), so we really didn't get to experience a ton. I'm excited to see what this tournament has to offer for our girls in terms of an experience."
 
In 2023-24, the Eagles finished 31-2 overall and 20-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference – winning both the league regular-season and tournament championships and reaching the Round of 32 in the D-II tournament.
 
Last season, Northwest Missouri was 23-8 and reached the D-II postseason, and Missouri Southern ended at 20-9.
 
Over the last 13 seasons (2011-12 to 2023-24), Ashland is 390-41 (.905) with three NCAA Division II national titles, two national runner-up finishes, three undefeated seasons, a D-II-record 73-game winning streak, a D-II-record 39-game road winning streak (current), eight 30-win seasons, 12 NCAA postseason qualifications, nine conference regular-season championships, 10 conference tournament titles, and a mark of 210-14 (.938) at home.
  Game 1 – 11:30AM: Central Missouri vs. Southern Nazarene
Game 2 – 1:30PM: Pittsburg State vs. Ferris State
Game 3 – 3:30PM: Northwest Missouri vs. ASHLAND UNIVERSITY 
Game 4 – 5:30PM: Missouri Southern vs. Texas Woman's Game 1 – 11:30AM: Pittsburg State vs. Southern Nazarene
Game 2 – 1:30PM: Central Missouri vs. Ferris State
Game 3 – 3:30PM: Missouri Southern vs. ASHLAND UNIVERSITY 
Game 4 – 5:30PM: Northwest Missouri vs. Texas Woman's