The national championship game is set for April 1, 2023, between the Ashland University women’s basketball team and the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.

The No. 1 and No. 2 seed in the Elite Eight took care of business and are now the final two teams.

The Eagles advanced with an 81-72 win vs UT Tyler, and a 76-67 win vs Glenville State. Annie Roshak was the game-high scorer in each game with 24 points against the Patriots and 17 against the Pioneers.

On the other side of things for Minnesota Duluth, the Bulldogs took down Assumption 61-41 and then beat Catawba, 70-59.

The Eagles and Bulldogs have very similar lineups in terms of size with two forwards who could play the center position at the power forward and five spots. 

Additionally, both teams have a shooter at the small forward position, and guards that can playmakers by passing the ball to the forwards in the low post.

The balanced offense attack of the Eagles is countered by a one-woman show on the Bulldogs, that being graduate student Brooke Olson.

Olson is averaging 23.1 points per game, along with 7.4 rebounds per contest.

In her games within the Elite Eight and Final Four rounds, she scored 15 points against the Greyhounds and 34 points against the Indians.

The spread-out attack of the Eagles, who have four scorers averaging in double figures, will have to look to continue success on offense against a great defensive Bulldogs squad that allows only 56.4 points per game to opponents.

Both teams clean up the glass very well because of their size with the Bulldogs hauling in 34 rebounds per contest, and the Eagles pulling in 36.4. The boards will definitely be important in the game, to earn extra possessions for both offenses.

The (36-0) Eagles and (32-3) Bulldogs are set for the national championship game on April 1, with tip-off set for 3:30 EST.