A Great Midwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game which featured many key runs, 11 lead changes and five tie scores saw Ashland University lose 71-66 at Malone on Thursday (Feb. 19) night.
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The Eagles (14-10 overall, 10-8 Great Midwest) continue to need a win or an Ohio Dominican loss to qualify for a conference tournament for a 19
th consecutive season.
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Malone's early 9-0 run helped the Pioneers (20-5, 13-4) to a 12-6 lead, but Ashland rallied thanks to scoreless defense of more than four minutes to end the first quarter – allowing the Eagles to go into the second trailing 15-11.
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In that second stanza, Ashland's own run – this one much more substantial at 19-0 – put it on top at 34-22. Malone scored the last six points of the first half, however, and the Eagles' lead in the locker room was six.
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A very clean first 20 minutes featured a combined five turnovers and seven personal fouls.
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When the Pioneers scored the initial nine points of the second half, that overall 15-0 run put them on top 37-34. Back and forth Ashland and Malone went to end the third quarter, and going into the fourth, another 6-0 Pioneer spurt gave them a 48-46 advantage.
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A 3-point field goal from junior guard
Gia Casalinova early in the fourth quarter put AU ahead 53-52, and back and forth the two teams went once again – and all the way to the end of the game.
WRAPPING IT UP
- Freshman forward Jenna Slates ended a rebound shy of yet another double-double, posting 20 points and nine rebounds.
- Senior guard Alysa Lopez scored double-digit points (16) for a third consecutive contest.
- The Eagles turned the ball over just nine times, and were 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) from the free-throw line.
COMING UP
A week between games, then back to the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium vs. Walsh (15-11, 11-7) at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 26.
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It is the Eagles' Morgan's Message game and Military & First Responder Appreciation game – an AU camouflage T-shirt is available
HERE, and proceeds go to Vets with Pets.
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