AU women’s basketball prepares for non conference Michigan Tech

The Eagles sit 12-0 heading into their contest against the Huskies

The Eagles have relied on a deep bench to make sure the starters stay rested.

Cade Cracas, Sports & Digital Editor
December 25, 2022

The Ashland University women’s basketball team has had immense success throughout the 2022-2023 season and has placed itself at the No. 2 ranking in Division II.

As conference play has reached its middle point in the season, the Eagles have two nonconference contests to test new techniques, rotations and schemes to maximize their start in the new year.

They opened up the season with six nonconference contests and showed no signs of struggling.

Through their first five nonconference opponents, the Eagles recorded over 80 points while only giving up an average of 67 per contest. After those five opponents, they geared up to take on a team they are too familiar with, the Drury Panthers.

This contest would be one of their lowest-scoring contests of the season recording just 68 points, but their defense remained consistent holding the Panthers to 67 points in the win. With the win, the Eagles immediately shot up the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association ranking poll to the No. 2 spot in the nation.

They would then would continue their hot play against conference opponents before taking a 10-day rest after taking down the Travecca Nazarene Trojans on Dec. 19.

Now that the Eagles are amidst their 10-day rest, they have a chance to head into 2023 with their undefeated record intact.

While the Eagles have been successful, the Michigan Tech Huskies have been successful as well. The Huskies sit 10-2 on the season and have taken down a nationally ranked team in the Ferris State Bulldogs.

They downed the Bulldogs, 67-52, showcasing that they can hang with some of the top teams in the country. While the Huskies remain unranked in the country, a victory against the Eagles would be just what they need to launch themselves up the ladder and into the top 25.

These two teams are set to square off on Dec. 29, at 5:30 P.M. in Kates Gymnasium.