The Eagles received a 20-point, 16-rebound performance from freshman forward
Jenna Slates, but they ultimately fell to the Northwood Timberwolves.
On Saturday (Jan. 31), the Ashland University women's basketball team travelled to Midland, Mich., to take on the Timberwolves in a mid-season Great Midwest Athletic Conference bout. The Eagles, who were coming off two straight defeats, were looking to bounce back into the winning column, but a dominant second quarter from the home side halted those expectations.
In the opening quarter of play, the Eagles and Timberwolves exchanged leads just twice, with the Eagles getting junior forward
Katelyn Harabedian involved on the opening basket. She made it 2-0, but from there, Northwood found a rhythm, scoring the next three baskets, going up 7-2. They would hold onto the edge, heading into the second quarter up 15-11.
In the second, Northwood was able to hold onto the control, as a barrage of three-pointers from guard Maeve St. John sent the Eagles onto their heels. With 8:15 to go until halftime, the lead had already ballooned to a 25-14 mark. Ashland was able to make up a little bit of ground, but St. John kept her team in control, leading 42-21 as neither team scored a basket in the final three minutes of play.
The Eagles, with a lot of work to do to mount a comeback, attempted to sneak back into it in the third, but a mix of St. John free throws and a late-quarter three ball from Northwood gave them a 24-point advantage heading into the fourth.
Although Ashland was able to outscore the opposition, 21-12, in the final quarter, it wasn't nearly enough to knock off the No. 1 team in the conference.
The Eagles finished the game shooting 33.3 percent from the field and 25 percent from deep range, while tacking on 15 free throws. Slates' 20 points and 16 rebounds led the way, with sophomore guard
Ashley Mullet just behind with 11 points and Harabedian finishing with that same mark.
St. John for the Timberwolves continued her conference Player of the Year candidacy with 24 points, five rebounds and three assists on 6-of-7 from deep.
With the result, the Eagles are now 11-8 on the season and 7-6 in conference play, while the Timberwolves have jumped to an impressive 16-5 and 12-1 mark.
Up next, Ashland will look to respond with back-to-back home games from Kates Gymnasium. The Eagles will play the Thomas More Saints on Thursday (Feb. 5), with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m., and host the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers just two days later on Saturday (Feb. 7), with tip-off set for 1 p.m..
