Ashland University women's basketball to host Great Midwest Tournament Final Four
The No. 4-ranked Ashland University women's basketball team won the Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular-season championship in its first season in the league and earned the right to host the G-MAC Tournament Final Four at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles (26-2) will play Findlay (15-14) for the third time in 10 days at 5:30 p.m. Friday in one semifinal, while No. 15 Walsh (25-3) will play Kentucky Wesleyan (19-9) in the other semi at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The championship game is set for 3 p.m. Saturday.
In the previous meetings this season with the Oilers, Ashland won on back-to-back days — 67-60 at home and 74-68 on the road. The Eagles have an all-time series advantage of 32-17 over Findlay.
Ashland has won seven of the last 10 conference tournaments in which it has played, all in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Since the start of the 2015-16 season, the Eagles are 112-4 (.966) at home.
Eye on the Final Four
Walsh comes into the final four with a 17-game winning streak. The Cavaliers have three seniors averaging at least 14.6 points — guard Sha Carter (19.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals, 56.8 FG%, 77.8 FT%), forward Mayci Sales (15.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 55.9 FG%) and guard Morgan McMillen (14.6 points, 47.8 3FG%, 86.7 FT%).
Kentucky Wesleyan has won five straight games entering the final four. The Panthers' top two players this season have been junior forward Tahlia Walton (14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 55.6 FG%, 41.0 3FG%, 78.0 FT%) and senior forward Cali Nolot (12.3 points, 49.3 FG%).
Since Jan. 31, Findlay has won nine of its last 12 games. Senior post Sydney Kin has been the Oilers' top player this season, averaging 17.4 points and 9.2 rebounds and making 59.6% from the field and 76.1% from the free-throw line.
Pickens proud of team's regular season
Ashland was 26-2 in the regular season, a significant accomplishment in the COVID-19 era and with schedules being adjusted almost on a regular basis. Only four NCAA Division II teams have less than two losses through March 1 — Glenville State (27-0), Barton (26-1), Grand Valley State (25-1) and Savannah State (25-1).
"I'm just really proud of the girls," said Ashland coach Kari Pickens. "I'm proud of this team. Definitely a lot of unfinished business in tournament play, but I think as we look back ... I'm really proud of the girls and the work that they put in."
Daniels continues to provide bench spark
Senior guard Erin Daniels scored 33 points in the last two games, making 12 of 18 shots from the field and 9 of 11 from 3-point range. Her season 3-point percentage of 44.2 is tops on the team among qualifiers and is a career high.
"I've said it a million times — she's a winner, and she's going to do whatever we need for the team to be in a position to be successful," Pickens said. "She's had some big games for us this (past) week. I'm proud of her, and I'm excited to see how she helps lead this team in postseason play."
Eagles rank high in Division II in key categories
Through March 1, Ashland is No. 2 in NCAA Division II in field-goal percentage at 48.6 (Walsh is No. 1 at 48.9), No. 9 in assists per game at 17.3 and tied for No. 9 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.24-to-1.
Ashland stays at No. 2 in regional rankings
The third and final NCAA Division II women's basketball regional rankings were revealed on Wednesday afternoon, and for the third week in a row Ashland was the No. 2 team in the Midwest Region. The announcement of the NCAA Division II tournament field will be made at 10 p.m. Sunday on NCAA.com.
A 64-team tournament (the top eight teams from each of eight regions), the D-II postseason will begin on March 11, and the Elite Eight, Final Four and the national championship game will be March 21, 23 and 25 at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland U women's hoops to host G-MAC Tourney Final Four
