In the 2025-26 Great Midwest Athletic Conference opener on Thursday (Dec. 4) night at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, the No. RV Ashland University women's basketball team held on late for a fourth consecutive win overall, 54-52, over Cedarville.
"The last thing I told the team was we've got to celebrate the fact that we won," said Ashland head coach
Kari Pickens. "We have a lot of things that didn't go well in that game. That is a reason to celebrate the victory and keep moving forward."
The Eagles are 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while the Yellow Jackets are 3-4, 0-1.
At the game's first media timeout, Ashland led 10-7. Thanks in large part to a 4-for-10 showing from 3-point range, the Eagles' advantage at the end of the first quarter was 16-11.
Cedarville, however, scored the first six points of the second period to go up 17-16. It was Ashland's turn to go on a run, scoring the game's next 10 points to go up by nine.
By the break, the Eagles' lead was 31-23 – and they scored 13 points off 10 Yellow Jacket turnovers.
Ashland's 5-1 spurt to begin the second half put it up by a dozen points, then freshman forward
Jenna Slates' put-back lifted the Eagles to a 41-28 advantage inside of the four-minute mark of the third quarter.
At the end of three, AU had a 47-36 lead – and the Eagles kept the Yellow Jackets at arm's length until Cedarville made a late run to cut the deficit to four points at 50-46, and then 52-48. With 1:38 remaining, two Cedarville free throws made it a 52-50 contest.
A Yellow Jackets layup knotted the score at 52 inside of the final minute. With 13.5 ticks to go, sophomore point guard
Ashley Mullet was fouled to put Ashland in the bonus. Mullet made both charity tosses to put the Eagles back on top for good.
"That was a huge play for us," Pickens said.
SLATES RACKING UP DOUBLE-DOUBLES
- For a third consecutive game, Slates finished with a double-double – 17 points and 13 rebounds.
- "Coming in, starting as a freshman, it's a huge role," Slates admitted, "but I have the best teammates to fill me in. Playing a new five spot, it's a key to our offense."
- Said Pickens, "Jenna's been playing absolutely phenomenal. We recruited her here knowing that she could have a big role, but she has come in an attacked it. It hasn't taken Jenna any time. She's aggressive on both ends of the court."
- Mullet (11 points) and junior guard Lexi Howe (10) also scored in double figures.
- Ashland's 17 forced turnovers resulted in 19 Eagle points.
NEXT UP
Saturday (Dec. 6) at 1 p.m. at home vs. Northwood (5-2, 1-0). This is AU's toy drive and Little Eagles cheerleaders game.
"It is a key conference game," said Pickens. "I know that we're a good offensive team. We didn't showcase that tonight. Parts of tonight, we looked like a great defensive team, as well, as I want to carry that over to Saturday's game."
