ASHLAND — March has become synonymous with long Division II tournament runs for the Ashland University women’s basketball team.
This year, however, the Eagles will play a relatively new role.
Coach Kari Pickens’ squad will be an underdog at the Midwest Regional Tournament.
Although the fifth-ranked Eagles have a 24-game winning streak, and are ranked No. 5 in the nation, host Grand Valley State is the overwhelming favorite at the regional. Ashland is the No. 2 seed, and will open its tourney quest on Friday at 2:30 p.m. vs. Ferris State.
“I do think that we’ve played the best basketball that we’ve played all year, here in this last stretch, which is exciting to be feeling that going into tournaments,” Pickens said. “We have had a lot of different contributors on the offensive end.
“That has been great to see as we go into tournaments.”
Last weekend the Eagles won their fourth straight Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament title, coming from behind in the second half to dismiss Hillsdale College 69-57.
“I wouldn’t change a thing about this season because we learned a lot from the early half of the season and we’re feeling really good going into the (NCAA Tournament),” Pickens said.
The second-seeded Eagles (30-3) are tied for No. 2 in the country in scoring defense (50.0 points per game allowed), fourth in scoring margin (plus-20.5 ppg.), sixth in field-goal percentage (46.3) and 10th in rebounding margin (plus-9.0 rebounds per game.).
Senior forward Hayley Smith is third in Division II in total rebounds (365) and tied for seventh with 17 double-doubles. Senior guard Morgan Yoder is tied for 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.30-to-1).
Sarah McKee, of Medina, was selected the G-MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. The 6-foot-2 senior hit 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) shots from the field and averaged 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 block and 1.3 steals per game. She was 6-for-6 from the field and recorded 14 points and six rebounds in the championship game.
Senior Zoe Miller also landed on the All-Tournament squad. The 5-foot-11 senior averaged 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 blocks last week.
Smith was the third Eagle honored on the tourney squad. The 6-foot-1 senior collected 12.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.3 steals.
Ferris State (21-11) is the number seven seed for the regional in Allendale, Michigan, on the campus of Grand Valley State University. The Eagles won at Ferris State 69-59 on Nov. 23.
The winner takes on the survivor of No. 3 seed Northern Michigan (22-8) vs. No. 6 seed Hillsdale (21-9). That regional semifinal will take place on Saturday.
AU dusted Northern Michigan 84-62 on Dec. 22 and also knocked off Hillsdale 70-59 in the regular season. Both were home games for the Eagles.
Should the Eagles advance to the regional final on Monday night, top-seeded Grand Valley State figures to be waiting. The Lakers (32-2) rolled past Ashland 67-42 in their lone meeting on Nov. 21 at Allendale.
The NCAA Tournament website offered this quick take on the top two teams in the region:
Team to beat: Grand Valley State
The Lakers have been right at the top of the rankings for the entire season, and for good reason.
They have two losses this season — one is by a basket and the other is to Ohio State (yes, THE Ohio State).
Over the past five seasons, GVSU has had one of the best scoring defenses annually in all Division II. What they haven’t had was the offense to match, which is not the case in 2025.
The Lakers enter the tournament with the second-best scoring offense (84.2 points per game) and seventh-best scoring defense (52.3) with the top scoring margin in Division II. That’s a pretty good combination.
Team to watch: Ashland
You’ve watched Division II women’s basketball before, right?
The list of most successful programs of the 2000s is pretty short because these Eagles and Lubbock Christian have made it no fun for everyone else.
Going back to 2012, Ashland has been in five championship games, more than anyone else.
They are always one of the best teams, and that is no different this year, where they are one of the hottest teams in the country with the third longest active winning streak in the nation.