Eagle Women Defeated Late At Home By KWC

Despite a 17-17 game from freshman forward Jenna Slates on Saturday (Feb. 7), Ashland University's women's basketball team lost 70-65 to Kentucky Wesleyan at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
 
The Eagles (12-9 overall, 8-7 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) received a 14^th double-double this season from Slates, who finished with 17 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot.
 
Sophomore point guard Ashley Mullet scored 16 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and junior forward Katelyn Harabedian chipped in 12 points, five assists and two steals.
 
Slates' five points, four rebounds and an assist helped AU to an 11-7 lead at the first media timeout. The Panthers' (14-7, 10-5) late rally left them with a 19-17 lead through the first.
 
It was a highly competitive first half overall, as the halftime score was a 32-32 draw. There were six lead changes and seven ties, and no one had a lead of more than five points, in the game's first 20 minutes.
 
Ashland pulled away early in the second half, and took its largest lead at 42-34 – forcing a KWC timeout. The Panthers, however, nearly fought all the way back by the end of the third period, trailing 48-45.
 
Inside of the seven-minute mark of the final stanza, the Panthers tied the Eagles at 54-all. Kentucky Wesleyan took the lead outside of four minutes to play and didn't relinquish it.
 
WRAPPING IT UP

• Ashland dished out 19 assists on 25 made field goals.
• The Eagles went 9-of-11 (81.8 percent) from the free-throw line – the fourth time in six outings they have gone for more than 80 percent.

COMING UP
Back on the road for a Great Midwest contest on Thursday (Feb. 12) at 5:30 p.m. at Cedarville (8-14, 3-11).