Ashland University women's basketball to play three G-MAC home games in five days
The No. 5-ranked Ashland University women’s basketball team will play three Great Midwest Athletic Conference home games in five days — 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Ohio Dominican, 1 p.m. Saturday against Cedarville and 2 p.m. Monday against Trevecca Nazarene.
Ashland brought a 10-game winning streak into the week, as well as a two-game lead in the loss column over Kentucky Wesleyan and Walsh in the league standings.
The Eagles improved to 18-0 all-time against the Panthers with a 77-53 win in Columbus on Dec. 2. Ohio Dominican has gone 2-2 in the last four games after a 1-11 start. The Panthers’ floor leaders are junior guard Kennedy Schlabach (15.0 points, 3.8 assists, 86.7 FT%), senior guard Bailey Williams (13.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 49.7 FG%, 82.4 FT%) and freshman guard Gabby Stare (12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 81.1 FT%)
AU improved to 18-11 all-time against the Yellow Jackets with a 79-52 road victory on Dec. 4. Cedarville has won two in a row after losing two straight. Senior guard Emily Chapman (16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 48.0 FG%, 45.9 3FG% and 85.7 FT%) is the Yellow Jackets’ pacesetter.
Ashland and Trevecca Nazarene will play in women’s basketball for the first time to close out the three-in-five stretch. The Trojans entered the week coming off a loss after winning two in a row. Sophomore guard Keeley Carter averages 15.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 48.5% from the field and 76.8% from the free-throw line, and freshman forward Emma Palmer averages 11.8 points and 5.9 rebounds, making 54.5% from the field and 78.6% from the free-throw line.
Pickens looks back at win at Hillsdale
The Eagles played one game last week, a 25-point victory at Hillsdale in which they recorded 25 assists to 12 turnovers, outrebounded the Chargers 40-29 and made 6 of 7 free throws.
“I thought our team played really, really well at Hillsdale from start to finish,” said Ashland coach Kari Pickens.
Ashland outshot the Chargers in each of the first three quarters.
Spielman rounding into form after first half of season
Sophomore guard Macy Spielman has started the last 10 games for the Eagles. Those also happen to be all the games in AU’s winning streak. In her last three games, Spielman collected 50 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and five steals and shot 61.3% from the field, 6 of 9 from 3-point range and 6 of 7 from the foul line.
“When she has good body control around the rim ... it’s just such a hard matchup for people,” Pickens said. “It’s really hard to stop. She’s grown tremendously from the start of the season until now.”
Fortner steps into starting role strong
Junior guard Sophia Fortner started at Hillsdale, making her first appearance in a starting lineup since Jan. 26, 2021. In 18 minutes, she racked up a career-high-tying six assists while not turning the ball over.
“I was so proud of Soph,” Pickens said. “Defensively, she did a great job as well. Our team’s really getting to the point where we can utilize our depth well.”
Sanders adds quality minutes in a variety of ways
Senior forward Kayla Sanders played a season-high 12 minutes off the bench at Hillsdale and collected two points and five assists. Earlier in 2021-22, Sanders had a nine-point game off the bench in just nine minutes.
“What a great problem to have as a coach to have that much depth,” said Pickens. “I couldn’t be more thankful to have the depth that we do.”
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland U women to play three G-MAC home games in five days
