LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE
In a matchup of two of the top three offensive teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on Saturday (Dec. 7) night, it was the team with the top-ranked offense which prevailed – in a relatively low-scoring game.
The No. 6-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team (7-0 overall, 2-0 GLIAC) ended its first conference road trip of 2019-20 with a 79-70 win at Ferris State (5-3, 0-2). Saturday marked the seventh straight time the Eagles have beaten the Bulldogs, and AU is 10-0 all-time against FSU as a Top-25 team.
Ashland came into Saturday night scoring a GLIAC-leading 97.2 points per game, while Ferris State was third in the conference at 83.7 ppg. The Eagles shot 43.8 percent from the field, the Bulldogs 43.1 percent, and the two teams combined for 35 turnovers.
THE MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
- The Bulldogs jumped out to a 10-4 lead early, but the Eagles rallied to the tune of a 17-4 run which left Ashland with a 21-14 lead through the game's first 10 minutes. Defense led the way in the first quarter, as AU kept Ferris State to 29.4-percent shooting from the field and forced four turnovers.
- Ashland extended its lead to 31-18 just three minutes into the second quarter, as the offense and defense were clicking in tandem. By halftime, the Eagles' advantage had increased to 45-30, thanks to an offense which made 51.5 percent of its shots, and a defense which limited the Bulldogs to 33.3 percent.
- Ferris State began the third quarter on an 11-2 run to cut its deficit to six points at 47-41, but by the end of the period, Ashland's lead was up to 11 points at 61-50. The Eagles continued to keep the Bulldogs at arm's length, and a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Hallie Heidemann at the 5:30 mark of the fourth made it a 68-56 lead en route to the win.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Ashland was led by senior guard Jodi Johnson, who scored 21 points and added five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Heidemann scored 17 points in her second collegiate start, including nine in the fourth quarter.
- Senior guard Renee Stimpert added 11 points and five assists.
- Ashland had a 42-33 rebounding advantage, giving the Eagles 40 or more rebounds in five of seven games this season.
- Ferris State was paced by Riley Blair, who combined a game-high 26 points with seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
UP NEXT
The first GLIAC home game of the new season on Saturday (Dec. 14) at 5:30 p.m. vs. Wayne State (6-2, 1-1) at Kates Gymnasium.
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