Ashland University claims Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament championship
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 also was the ninth tournament title in the last 12 seasons with the other seven coming as members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“It’s been a really, really fun run,” AU coach Kari Pickens said. “I’m really proud of our team. Each year, it has looked different.
“What’s great about this program is it’s not like it’s been one and done. We’ve been able to get other kids who want to pursue that legacy and have helped us do that.
“I’m really proud of this team to find a way to win and come home with the championship.”
The victory earns No. 1-ranked AU the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II tournament, with the Eagles undoubtedly playing host to the Midwest Regional that begins play 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 hit Trevecca’s zone defense with a three-point barrage in the second quarter.
Six different Eagles drained 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 get the best look possible,” said fifth-year guard Hallie Heidemann, who led the Eagles with 11 first-half points. “We’re always about getting a high percentage look and taking the best shot for the team.”
Ashland and Trevecca traded baskets in the third quarter that ended with AU in front, 67-47. Three-pointers again were the story for AU, as point guard Morgan Yoder swished three of Ashland’s five bonus baskets in the period.
The pesky Trojans did cut Ashland’s lead to 11 points at one point, 56-45, only to see the Eagles respond 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 (the tempo).
“But I thought we did a good job for a majority of the game switching things up, keeping Trevecca on their toes not knowing how we were going to be guarding.”
Still, the Eagles opened up their largest lead of the game, 83-59, when Yoder made the last of her six three-pointers and Hayley Smith tacked on a basket in the lane.
Yoder, who was named to the all-tournament team along with Heidemann, scored a career-high 18 points with her career-best six three-pointers.
Heidemann added 16 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists, and Smith added nine points and 10 rebounds.
“Morgan is an incredible basketball player, incredible point guard and she can shoot the ball,” Heidemann said.
Senior forward Annie Roshak, who on Friday was named the GMAC Player of the Year, capped a great weekend with the GMAC tourney Most Valuable Player Award.
After a 26-point effort in the semifinals against Malone, she scored 13 points with four assists and two rebounds against Trevecca.
“Individual awards are a direct reflection of the team,” Roshak said. “I wouldn’t have been MVP if we wouldn’t have won and we hadn’t shown up as well as we did this weekend.
“I’m just really grateful to be a tournament champion. At the end of the day we’ve had four championships here now. We’re just excited to keep that rolling.”
Trevecca center Emma Palmer led all scorers in the game with 22 points. Guard Keeley Carter added 17 points, and both players also were selected to the GMAC all-tournament team.
The Eagles likely will enter the eight-team Midwest Regional as the No. 1 seed. Pairings and the tournament site will be announced Sunday night.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland University claims Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament championship
