ASHLAND — New conference, same success.
The Ashland University women's basketball team collected more hardware Saturday afternoon at Kates Gymnasium, defeating Trevecca Nazarene 83-65 in the championship game of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament.
The 31-0 Eagles now have two regular season titles and two tournament titles in two years in the GMAC. Saturday's trophy was also the ninth tournament title in the past 12 seasons with the other seven coming as members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“It was a really, really fun run,” AU coach Kari Pickens said. “I'm really proud of our team. Every year, it looked different.
“What's great about this program is that it's not like it's over. We've been able to get other kids who want to follow that legacy and they've helped us do that.
“I'm really proud of this team for finding a way to win and come home with the championship.”
The win earns the league's No. 1 AU ranking the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II championship, with the Eagles in contention to host the Midwest Regional that begins Friday.
The loss dropped Trevecca to 21-9.
The Eagles started their road to victory over the Trojans with a 9-0 blitz from the jump. Then, with an 18-11 lead after one quarter, AU pounded Trevecca's zone defense with a barrage of three-pointers in the second quarter.
Six different Eagles hit triples in the second period as AU went six of eight from behind the arc. That, combined with six of six free throws, pushed Ashland's advantage to 42-24 at halftime.
“We just wanted to put on our best performance,” said fifth-year guard Hallie Heidemann, who led the Eagles with 11 points in the first half. “We're always looking to have a high shot percentage and make the best shot for the team.”
Ashland and Trevecca traded baskets in the third quarter that ended with AU ahead, 67-47. Three-pointers were the story again for AU, as point guard Morgan Yoder hit three of Ashland's five bonus baskets in the period.
The pesky Trojans cut Ashland's lead to 11 points at one point, 56-45, only to see the Eagles answer with 11 unanswered points late in the period.
“They really try to control the game,” Pickens said. “One of the things Trevecca does better than a lot of teams is how they control (pace).
“But I thought we did a good job for the majority of the game, switching things up, keeping Trevecca on his toes without knowing how we were going to guard.”
However, the Eagles opened their largest lead of the game, 83-59, when Yoder made the last of her six 3-pointers and Hayley Smith made a basket in the lane.
Yoder, who was named to the all-tournament team along with Heidemann, scored a career-high 18 points to go with a career-best six 3-pointers.
Heidemann added 16 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists and Smith nine points and 10 rebounds.
“Morgan is an incredible basketball player, an incredible point guard and she can shoot the ball,” Heideman said.
Senior forward Annie Roshak, who was named the GMAC Player of the Year on Friday, had a great weekend with the GMAC Tournament Most Valuable Player award.
After a 26-point effort in the semifinals against Malone, he scored 13 points with four assists and two rebounds against Trevecca.
“The individual awards are a direct reflection of the team,” Roshak said. “I wouldn't be MVP if we didn't win and perform as well as we did this weekend.
“I'm really grateful to be the tournament champion. At the end of the day we've had four championships here now. We're just excited to keep it rolling.”
Trevecca center Emma Palmer led all scorers in the game with 22 points. Guard Keeley Carter added 17 points and both players were named to the GMAC all-tournament team.
The Eagles will likely enter the eight-team Midwest Regional as the No. 1 seed. The pairings and tournament venue will be announced on Sunday night.
