The No. RV Ashland University women's basketball team saw a 21-point second quarter lead slip away on Saturday (Dec. 6) afternoon at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, as Northwood took a 78-74 decision.
Through two Great Midwest Athletic Conference games, the Eagles are 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the league, while the Timberwolves are 6-2, 2-0.
The Eagles ran out to a 16-8 lead at the game's first media timeout – as they forced six Timberwolves turnovers and scored eight points off them. Ashland led 27-14 after the first 10 minutes, as freshman forward
Jenna Slates posted a dozen of those AU points.
At the second-quarter media stoppage, the Eagles had their largest lead to date at 37-18. Despite Northwood scoring the last 12 points of the first half, Ashland still went into the locker room leading 40-31.
The Timberwolves extended that run into the start of the second half, making it 17-0 to trail by only four points. The Eagles, however, reestablished a 54-44 advantage right before the third-quarter media timeout after a 3-point field goal from graduate guard
Jenna Badali.
Northwood rallied again to end the period, however, and Ashland's lead going into the final stanza was 58-54. The T'Wolves kept inching closer, and following a triple, they led 64-63 with 5½ minutes to go.
A Northwood trey outside of the two-minute mark lifted it to a 69-66 lead – a lead it would not relinquish.
WRAPPING IT UP
- Slates recorded her fourth straight double-double on Saturday, ending with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
- Junior guard Lexi Howe led Ashland with 17 points, junior forward Katelyn Harabedian posted a career-high 12 points, and Badali added 11 points.
NEXT UP
The continuation of Great Midwest play on Thursday (Dec. 11) at 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. Central) at Kentucky Wesleyan (4-3, 1-1)
