Top-Ranked AU Women Defeat Warriors, Win 46th In A Row

Top-Ranked AU Women Defeat Warriors, Win 46th In A Row

LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE

We learned a long time ago that there's no place like home.

That's true for the Ashland University women's basketball team, who played in just its third game at Kates Gymnasium in 2017-18 on Thursday (Dec. 7) night, defeating Wayne State, 120-70.

The No. 1-ranked Eagles move to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Warriors are 6-3, 1-2.

"I thought it was just really a great team win," said Ashland head coach Robyn Fralick. "We shared the ball, I thought we pushed really well, and after the first quarter, I thought we did a good job defending."

Ashland won its 46th consecutive game on Thursday, moving closer to the NCAA Division II record of 51, set by Washburn from Jan. 26, 2005-March 11, 2006. North Dakota State won 49 consecutively from Feb. 25, 1994-Dec. 15, 1995.

Five Eagles scored at least 12 points, with senior forward Laina Snyder leading the way with 25 to go with seven rebounds and three steals. Senior forward Andi Daugherty added 18 points, seven boards and five assists; sophomore guard Jodi Johnson went for 18 points, six rebounds, seven assists and six steals; junior guard Brooke Smith came off the bench for a career-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range and sophomore guard Renee Stimpert chipped in with 12 points, six assists and three steals.

"I just thank my teammates," Smith said. "They got me the ball when I was open, and I wanted to knock them down for them."

Daugherty and the Eagles began a stretch of four of five games at "The Kates," and the one road game in that stretch is a little more than an hour away at Tiffin.

"We love playing at home. We haven't done it a whole lot this year," she said. "It was a pretty good crowd, and we love our 'Purple Swarm.'"

Ashland's 120 points are second-most in program history in a game, and the second-most in a GLIAC women's basketball game.

TEN TAKEAWAYS

1. The game was tied at 22 late in the first quarter, then the Eagles went on a 9-0 run which extended into the second period.

2. By halftime – seemingly in the blink of an eye – Ashland extended its advantage to 62-39. The Eagles shot 61.1 percent from the floor, had 17 assists on 22 made baskets, had four players in double-digit scoring and forced 15 turnovers.

3. A game after shooting a season-low 35.4 percent at Ferris State, Ashland hit 56.8 percent from the field against the Warriors. The Eagles also hit a season-best 11 3-pointers, and went 25-of-31 from the free-throw line.

4. Prior to Thursday, Ashland led NCAA Division II in assists per game (22.8) and turnovers forced per contest (28.5). On Thursday, the Eagles had 28 helpers and forced 27 Wayne State miscues.

5. Snyder became just the second player in Ashland women's basketball history to reach 1,750 career points. She has 1,766, trailing only Amber Rall (2,087).

6. Snyder now has at least 20 points in four consecutive games.

7. Ashland has scored in triple digits three times this season and 14 times during the 46-game winning streak.

8. Ashland's other winning streaks extended on Thursday include a school-record 43 at home in the regular season, 43 in the regular season, a school-record 31 at home in the GLIAC regular season, 29 in the GLIAC regular season and 24 at home.

9. The Eagles have won six straight games vs. the Warriors.

10. Thursday's game was Ashland's 1,250th all-time, moving the program's lifetime record to 766-484.

UP NEXT

Saturday (Dec. 9) at 1 p.m. at Kates Gymnasium vs. Davenport.

 

 

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