The statistics showed that Wednesday (Nov. 11) night's basketball game at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium very much was an early-season affair – but the only stat that counted was the No. 18 Ashland University women earning a 69-55 win over visiting Bluefield State.
 
Wednesday's game was the 2026-27 opener for the Eagles, while the Big Blue are 0-2 early on.
 
"Obviously, we're really excited to be able to walk away with a win," said Ashland head coach Kari Pickens. "There are a lot of things that we will be able to learn from this game. It wasn't the prettiest. They make you play in a way that is uncomfortable.
 
"We saw spurts of how good we could be this year, so we're excited to build on that."
  
Between the two teams on Wednesday, there were a combined 36 turnovers, 47 personal fouls and 83 rebounds.
 
Trailing 8-7 early, the Eagles proceeded to score seven quick points to lead at the first-quarter media timeout. By the end of the first period, Ashland led 19-16, primarily due to hitting 58.3 percent and keeping Bluefield State to 26.7 percent.
 
At the half, the Ashland advantage was seven points at 32-25. The Eagles sported a 27-20 rebounding advantage, and kept the Big Blue to 21.9 percent from the floor.
 
An old-fashioned 3-point play from sophomore forward Jenna Slates early in the second half put Ashland up by double digits for the first time at 35-25, and at the first media stoppage of the second half, that lead was up to 43-29.
 
Going into the fourth stanza, the Eagles led 48-37. They moved out to a 60-43 advantage thanks to five quick points before Bluefield State called timeout, and went on to the win from there.
 
Slates picked up where she left off last season, recording a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) despite playing just 19 minutes due to foul trouble. Junior guard Kendall Standfest added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists in her first game as an Eagle.
 
Junior guard Lexi Howe – returning from missing most of 2025-26 due to injury – rounded out three Eagles in double-digit scoring with 11 points.
 
"I was just so excited," Howe said. "I'm grateful and I'm blessed to be able to recover well enough to be back on the court this year."
 
The Eagles out-rebounded Bluefield State by a wide 52-31 margin, and finished with 18 assists on 23 made field goals – two big trademarks of past successful AU women's basketball teams.
 
"I think we're really talented. I think we're really special," said Pickens. "We're not there yet, though. Today gave us an opportunity to get a step closer to getting those pieces together."

Ashland is 363-26 (.933) all-time as a nationally-ranked team in NCAA Division II.
 
The Eagles will stay at home in the early non-conference portion of 2026-27, taking on Lake Superior State at 2 p.m. on Sunday (Nov. 15).