ASHLAND — The Ashland University women’s basketball team is headed for another championship date.
The No. 1-ranked Eagles got off to a slow start Saturday night against Trevecca Nazarene, but found their undefeated form to thump the Pioneers 73-49 in an NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Semifinal at Kates Gymnasium.
Ashland (33-0) meets fifth-seeded Grand Valley State for a regional championship on Monday at 7 p.m. — again on its home floor. It will be the first meeting this season between the Eagles and Lakers (31-2).
Ashland ended Trevecca Nazarene’s year, despite a slow start. The Pioneers opened a 15-8 first-quarter lead, but AU had the better of it after that.
AU’s performance over the final three periods was “some of the best basketball we’ve played in a while,” according to head coach Keri Pickens.
Trevecca never trailed until the final second of the half, when Maddie Maloney drilled a trey to send the Eagles to the intermission with a 27-24 edge.
Ashland’s lead ballooned in the third period when Hallie Heidemann — who won her 100th game as a starter Saturday — connected on three straight treys to fuel the fire.
“I could feel the momentum shifting. We were making plays, getting stops, gave great looks on offense, and we just had to stay shot ready,” Heidemann said.
A few drives into the lane put the Eagles up 50-35 to start the fourth period. Sophomore Zoe Miller scored nine points in the last quarter, helping her team seal the deal.
“I thought we played confident. I thought we played really together and we executed the scout really well. I thought defensively we did some really good things,” Pickens said.
Heidemann and senior Annie Roshak led the Eagles in scoring with 17 and 15 points, respectively.
“Hallie has really embodied everything that our program has been about and I was really proud of her effort tonight. She played fearlessly,” Pickens said.
Grand Valley State advanced by eliminating Drury 61-53 in the other regional semifinal on Saturday.
