LIVE: Ashland women’s basketball competes in D-II national championship
Ashland University vs. Minnesota Duluth, follow the journey below
The Eagles stand at center court to celebrate their win in the Final Four against Glenville State
March 30, 2023
The Ashland University women’s basketball team has had an exciting 2022-2023 season. On top of the team’s undefeated season, a Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship, a Midwest Regional Tournament Championship and two wins in the Elite Eight, the Eagles are headed to Dallas to compete in the NCAA Division II national championship.
While the coverage will be far and wide of a three-division national championship, Ashland University’s Journalism and Digital Media department, which has covered the team for the entire season, will be following the team every step of the way.
Below is full LIVE coverage, updates and stories relating to the No. 1 team in the country and its supporters.
D-II Player of the Year vs. D-II Coach of the Year, the 2023 national championship
Olson vs. Pickens, Ashland vs. Minnesota Duluth
written by Cade Cracas, posted: 12:00 p.m. March 31th
The Division II women’s basketball sphere has blessed the 2022-2023 season with impeccable play, and the national championship should be no different.
The No. 1 seeded Ashland University Eagles and the No. 6 seeded University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs will go toe-to-toe in Dallas on Saturday, April 1, at 3:30 pm EST.
Heading into the title game, both teams have had their fair share of program accolades.
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) was busy with these top two teams throughout the season. On top of ranking them within the top 25 all year long, the WBCA gave two of its yearly awards to the Eagles and one to the Bulldogs.
With an undefeated record, conference championship and midwest tournament championship underneath the team’s belt, Head Coach Kari Pickens was named D-II Coach of the Year. Alongside Pickens, counterpart Jenna Kotas was given the honor of D-II Assistant Coach of the Year.
Pickens, who won a D-II title as a player and an assistant coach, will have an opportunity to complete the trifecta with a title as a head coach.
For the Bulldogs, they lost just two games in nonconference play and one during conference play en route to a conference championship and central region tournament title. While the Eagles received coaching honors, the Bulldogs had player accolades for forward Brooke Olson, who took home D-II Player of the Year.
“They do a lot of things well at both ends of the court, but Olson sets them apart,” Eagle Head Coach Kari Pickens said. “Just the way she can score in a variety of ways is special.”
Olson heads into the national championship averaging a stellar 23 points per game to go alongside 57% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc. On the season she has posted 15 20-point games, six 30-point games and two 40-point games.
With Pickens recognizing how versatile Olson can be, the storyline to follow will during the national championship will be whether the undefeated Eagles can limit or slow down the D-II Player of the Year.
She has only had one single-digit game, and four games under 15 points this season. While it will be a tough task for the Eagles to cover, Pickens has a deep resume behind her and will surely have a game plan to stop the star forward.
“Brooke is incredibly talented and the most versatile player I have ever been around,” said Bulldog Head Coach Mandy Pearson. “I say this often but she has found a way to improve as a leader and a basketball player every single year.
Olson will have the opportunity to finish off her final collegiate season by giving her program their first D-II title, while Pickens will be looking for her first as a head coach.
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Preview: The Eagles look to complete undefeated season vs. Bulldogs
The D-II national championship will be on Saturday, April 1
written by Ethan Jenkins, posted: 04:00 a.m. March 31th
The Ashland University women’s basketball team is set to play in the national championship game vs the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Saturday, April 1.
The Eagles look to remain undefeated and go the distance, currently sitting at a record of 36-0.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have only lost three contests this season with 32 wins.
Minnesota Duluth lost games to Missouri Southern, Michigan Tech and Augustana. The loss to Michigan Tech was the worst of the season with a final score of 46-61. The other two losses for the Bulldogs came by a combined five points.
The Eagles won all 36 of their games and won by an average of 24 points per game.
Both teams bring in bigger lineups with two players five feet 11 inches tall or taller in the starting lineups.
The matchup in the paint will be one to watch because the Division II national player of the year will be matched up with one of the strongest parts of the Eagles team.
Standing at six foot two inches tall, graduate student forward Brooke Olson won the player of the year honors averaging over 23 points and snagging 7.4 rebounds per contest for the Bulldogs.
Then at the power forward position is senior Madelyn Granica, who adds presence in the paint with five points and 3.4 rebounds.
The Eagles will have All-American Annie Roshak and Hayley Smith down in the paint. Roshak is the Eagles leading scorer at 14.4 points per game and Smith is coming off her best performance of the season in the Final Four tallying a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds.
At the point guard position for the Bulldogs is graduate student Maesyn Thiesen. Thiesen is the team leader in assists this season and has started all 35 games this year.
The starting one for the Eagles is still up in the air, as Morgan Yoder, the starting point guard on the team may need to come off the bench because of her hamstring injury.
In the case she comes off the bench, sophomore Savaya Brockington, who stepped up big in the Final Four with 16 points, will have to once again start in her place.
The Eagles have a big advantage at the shooting guard position with graduate student guard Hallie Heidemann matching up with Madelyn Granica. Granica averages 5.2 points per contest, while Heidemann averages nearly 13 points a game, and over 5 rebounds.
Then finally at the small forward position, Maddie Maloney matches up with Kaylee Nelson in a battle of the three and d players on both rosters.
There are even matchups on both sides with the Eagles having the statistical advantages at the wing positions.
Tip-off between the Eagles and Bulldogs is set for April 1, 2023 at 3:30 pm EST. The game will be broadcast on 88.9 WRDL and wrdlfm.com.
Ashland University to host national championship watch party
The Eagles and Bulldogs will take on one another at 3:30 EST
written by Cade Cracas, posted: 05:00 p.m. March 30th
The Ashland University women’s basketball team is gearing up for the NCAA Division II 2022-2023 national championship.
On Saturday, April 1, 2023, the Eagles will be taking on the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in the lone star state of Dallas, Texas.
For those who cannot make the far trip, Ashland University’s athletic department is holding a championship game watch party in Kate’s Gymnasium.
Kate’s Gymnasium, which is located at 916 King Rd in Ashland, Ohio, will not have any concessions, but Tuffy’s Smoothie Bar will be open. The Smoothie Bar is located in AU’s recreation center and will be open from 3-5:30 pm.
While there may not be concessions, there will be giveaways for fans in attendance.
Prior to the Eagles’ national championship appearance, the university’s student center held a watch party for both the Elite Eight and Final Four contests. With a good turnout for those, expect the same, if not more, for the big stage.
The Eagles and Bulldogs go toe-to-toe at 3:30 pm EST/2:30 pm CST this coming Saturday.
Eagles women’s basketball participates in Dallas “car wash”
written by Brynn Meisse, posted: 01:00 p.m. March 30th
Ashland University’s women’s basketball team traveled to Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for a “car wash” better known as media day, on Thursday, March 30.
The team got to participate in interviews, TikTok, and three different photo stations for the NCAA.
The media day was an opportunity for the women to take a break from the pre-game nerves and instead enjoy a fun day of team bonding.
NCAA celebrates 50 years of Title IX in Dallas
The Eagles gear up for the Bulldogs in the national championship
written by Brynn Meisse, posted: 03:00 p.m. March 29th
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the women’s basketball Division II and III national championship games will be held at the Dallas Mavericks’ Arena. The D-I Final Four and beyond are to be held there as well.
Title IX is a civil rights law that prohibits schools or educational programs that receive Federal financial assistance from discriminating against someone based on their sex. It was signed into law on June 23, 1972, as part of the Education Amendments Act.
A year prior to Title IX becoming law, an estimated 295,000 women participated in high school varsity sports. However, the numbers increased to 2.8 million in the early 2000s.
In 2002, Title IX was renamed to Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in honor of coauthor and U.S. Representative Patsy Mink.
Title IX was originally created to stop male-dominated academic disciplines from discriminating against women. However, the law has evolved over the years to protect students from sexual assault/harassment and discrimination of one’s gender identity and sexual orientation.
“It’s humbling the opportunities that we have and the opportunity to honor those who had gone before us and paved the way,” Senior Forward Annie Roshak explained. “I just hope we can continue to grow in, but also thank those that have come before us.”
In relation to sports, Title IX prohibits universities from denying athletic scholarships and providing fewer medical services, and facilities for women.
“To think how far women’s sports have come is just incredible and humbling to think of the opportunities that we have today that we can’t take for granted,” Graduate guard Hallie Heidemann said.
Women currently hold 25% of all NCAA head coaching and athletic director positions. They also have 30% of conference commissioner positions. The numbers are slowly starting to climb as more women and girls break the boundaries.
“It’s so much more than basketball,” Eagle Head Coach Kari Pickens said.
While Title IX is known for helping women in sports, it also has opened several doors for women, such as access to higher educational institutions, employment opportunities, math, and science.
“Getting to play, acknowledge that, and represent that as well is something special,” Heidemann concluded.
The Eagles will take on Minnesota Duluth in American Airlines Center on April 1 at 2:30 P.M. Central and 3:30 P.M. Eastern. Tune into 88.9 WRDL to listen to students Ethan Jenkins and Cade Cracas cover the game.
The history of Eagle basketball in the national championship
written by Cade Cracas, posted: 11:00 p.m. March 28th
The Ashland University women’s basketball team is no stranger to finding itself atop the Division II scene and a part of the national championship as they’ve been seen there four times in program history.
This year, the same claim can be made as the Eagles will take on the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in Dallas in hopes of bringing home a title in what is now the team’s fifth appearance.
The Eagles have found themselves in the last dance in five seasons, those being 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18 and the 2022-23 seasons. Through those five seasons, the team has amassed a 179-4 record, losing just two games in the regular season and two in the national championship.
Each of those seasons and national championship runs were unique, with its own individual story.
You can find an in-depth analysis of the history of the Elite Eight and Final Four by clicking the links below:
Elite Eight | Final Four
2011-12 Season: Loss
The 2011-12 national championship run was initially the most successful run in program history, even though the team fell just short of a title. Prior to the team’s explosion onto the D-II scene, the Eagles’ best season was an 18-3 record in the 1974-75 season led by Head Coach Ruth Jones. With that being noted, it was a shock to most when Head Coach Sue Ramsey flipped the program on its head.
Throughout the regular season, the Eagles amassed a stellar 33-1 record while running the table in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). In the conference tournament, they beat their opponents by an average of 12 points per game. Heading into the Midwest Regional Tournament, there was no doubt that they were the clear favorite.
In the opening round, they took down Maryville (Mo.) 87-62 before downing Quincy University and the University of Parkside en route to the program’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance. Then in the Elite Eight, the Eagles would take down Alaska-Anchorage, 71-51 with little struggle, and then in the Final Four take down Bentley University, 77-62.
However, the national championship would be where the Eagles met their match against Shaw University.
For just the third time in history, a national championship game would go into overtime, but unfortunately for the Eagles, they would not come out on the winning end.
After heading into halftime with an 11-point lead, 43-32, the Eagles were riding high off of senior Jena Stutzman who recorded 20 first-half points. The Eagles also shot a stellar 50% from the field, 67% from beyond the arc and 85% from the charity stripe. With that much momentum, it looked like they would close out the contest in the second 20 minutes and hoist a national championship trophy above their heads.
An 11-turnover second half for the Eagles would allow Shaw to keep the contest close. Both teams exchanged three leads a piece, with the game being tied 10 times.
In the game’s dying moments, Stutzman, who had a stellar first half, would put an exclamation point on the end of her career with a game-tying 30-foot three-pointer to send the game into overtime. After the shot was nailed, the Eagles and their traveling faithful rejoiced at the clutch moment they were blessed with, but they were in for extra time.
Out of the gates, Shaw struggled but was able to swat down the Eagles as they commanded a six-point lead to finish the game, outscoring the Eagles 16-10 in overtime.
Stutzman led the way for Ashland, who finished with 32 points and eight rebounds, while transfer forward Kari Daugherty (Pickens) finished the game with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
The Eagles’ first eye-opening season, which had just one loss heading into the championship, fell just short of the promised land.
2012-13 Season: Win
After a season that defied the odds and expectations of many ended in overtime heartbreak, the Eagles were back and looking for another stamp to be made on the D-II scene.
Starting the season off with an exhibition against D-I Dayton University where the Eagles downed them 79-77, the season looked bright with senior Daugherty keeping exceptional form.
The Eagles would then run through non-conference play with no struggles and take just one loss in conference play coming against GLIAC, now GMAC, rival in the Findlay Oilers.
Heading into the conference postseason with confidence, the Eagles routed a dominating 68-35 victory over Northern Michigan before taking down Michigan Tech in the second round, 81-68. In the conference championship, the Eagles got revenge on the Oilers by beating them 68-49, a 19-point defeat to hoist the conference title.
After putting together a one-loss regular season, and a GLIAC championship, the Eagles received the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional Tournament.
In the opening round, the Eagles blew out Indianapolis, 70-56, and in the second round, took on Michigan Tech for the third time that season, downing them 67-54.
With a chance for their second appearance in the Elite Eight in program history on the line in the Regional Championship, the Eagles took down another GLIAC foe, the Wayne State Warriors, 72-63.
In the Elite Eight and Final Four, the Eagles had little struggles against Gannon and Western Washington as they beat both by 10+ points. However, the Eagles found themselves in the exact same spot they were in the previous season, just one game away from taking home the program’s first national championship.
In the title game, the Eagles came with vengeance.
Heading into halftime, the Eagles led, 38-25 over the Dowling Golden Lions. For the defensive-minded Golden Lions, that would be the most amount of points they allowed in the first half all season. While the offense was thriving, the Eagle defense also showed strengths as they held the Golden Lions’ top scorer, forward Danielle Wilson, to just four points through the first 20 minutes.
To start the second half, the 13-point lead bounced around that margin as the Golden Lions tried to build upon a comeback. With eight minutes gone by, the Eagles’ lead had been diminished down to just eight points.
However, after that single-digit lead, the Eagles would bounce back with two straight three-pointers to bring the lead back into double digits. After those three-pointers, they would never allow the Golden Knights back within single digits for the remainder of the contest, closing out a 71-56 victory.
They were led by a 26-point and 12-rebound performance from Daugherty and a 20-point add-on from guard Taylor Woods. The team as a whole held Dowling to just 38% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc while the Eagles shot 47% from the field and 43% from three-point range.
For the first time in program history, the Eagles had found a national championship.
2016-17 Season: Win
After winning a national championship three years prior, the Eagles found themselves back in the running as one of the top teams in the country.
During those three years between the 2012-13 and 2016-17 seasons, the Eagles recorded a 74-20 record, still keeping them as a team to be on the lookout for. During the 2014-15 season, the team made it all the way to the Midwest Regional Final, before falling to the Lewis University Flyers. Then, in the 2015-16 season, the Eagles lost just two games, with one of them coming in the semi-final round of the Midwest Regional Tournament, sending them home with unfinished business.
To start the 2016-17 season, the Eagles scrimmaged D-I The Ohio State University and fell by just nine points, 88-79. After that, they would show no signs of struggle as they won 37 straight games en route to a national championship.
In the regular season, the closest margin of victory was seven points, 82-75, against Michigan Tech. They also scored over 100 points in a game, 11 times, as the top offense in D-II.
Heading into the conference tournament, the Eagles waltzed past Walsh University, Michigan Tech and Grand Valley State by an average of 20 points per game to secure a GLIAC title.
With momentum continuing to grow as the season progressed, the Eagles entered into the Midwest Regional Tournament as the No. 1 seed once again and took down all three opponents by an average of 20 points.
Through both the GLIAC and Midwest Regional Tournament, the Eagles outscored their three opponents in each tournament by 59 points. Not only did the team find tremendous success throughout their last six games, but they also got revenge on the Drury Panthers who ended their season the year prior.
Now, with the team’s third Elite Eight appearance in program history upon them, there was little doubt the Eagles would stop their reign of terror. They routed an 82-67 win over West Texas A&M in the Elite Eight before beating Downing, 90-77, in the Final Four.
The Eagles, for the third time, found their way into the national championship.
In the championship game against the Virginia Union Panthers on the campus of Ohio Dominican University, the Eagles were looking to become the first D-II team to complete a 37-0 undefeated season.
To start the game, they came out of the gates swinging with a 44-point first quarter where the Eagles led 24-20. Combined, the two sides shot 58% from the field and 75% from deep.
With both offenses thriving, they both just looked to continue those efforts heading into halftime as they one-upped their first quarter with 45 points being scored in the second. The score at halftime just slightly favored the Eagles as they led 47-42. Through the entirety of the first half, the Eagles shot 55% from the field and 52% from three-point range. On the contrary, the Panthers recorded 47% from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc.
The real first-half difference was made in the free throw column as the Panthers struggled, shooting 5-of-13, which would have given them the lead if they could’ve connected from the charity stripe.
In half number two, the Eagles showcased tremendous stamina as they continued their first-half performance without missing a beat offensively as the Panthers were unable to do the same.
The Eagles outscored them, 46-35, clinching a 93-77 victory led by an efficient scoring day from guard Jodi Johnson who knocked down four three-pointers alongside 19 points. Outside of Johnson, forward Laina Snyder contributed 17 points while hauling in seven rebounds and dishing off six assists.
The team finished the game shooting above 50% from both inside and outside the arc while going above 90% from the line.
The Eagles, through three national championship appearances, would now have two titles in their trophy case.
2017-18 Season: Loss
After completing an undefeated season the year prior, the Eagles looked to continue that streak, in which they would.
Starting the 2017-18 year off against two D-I opponents in exhibitions, it seemed as though the Eagles would be striving for greatness once again. They took on Ohio State once again, and the University of Connecticut (UConn). Against the Buckeyes, the Eagles put up 80 points but allowed 110 in a 30-point loss. Against UConn, the Eagles once again did not put up the performances they wanted to as they tallied just 56 points in a 63-point loss, 119-56.
The Eagles were able to get some of their qualms out of the way early as they prepared for the regular season. To start the season, they took on Cedarville University and beat them down, 115-60, which would be one of 19 100+ point games for the Eagles that season.
At one point from Jan. 13 through Feb. 10, the Eagles had eight straight 100+ point-scoring games, with one against Purdue Northwestern topping 120 points.
Heading into the conference tournament, the Eagles allowed just 39 points while putting up 88 against Davenport in the opening round. The Eagles would then down Northwood University and Grand Valley State in the semi-final round and the finals, to secure the team’s third straight conference title. That victory also made them the only team in a seven-year period to win five regular season titles and five conference titles in the GLIAC.
In the Midwest Regional Tournament, the Eagles would once again be the No. 1 seed while riding a 68-game win streak.
To open up NCAA Tournament play, the Eagles put up their only 100-point game in the postseason against the Hillsdale Chargers, downing them 104-82. In the semi-final round, they faced Grand Valley State once again, defeating them 80-68. With the tournament practically being a revenge tour for opposing Midwest teams, the Eagles would then take on Drury in the regional championship game.
Fortunately for the Eagles, their streak would live on and surpass 71 games heading into the Elite Eight as they took down the Panthers, 79-73 in nail-biting fashion.
In the Elite Eight and Final Four, the Eagles would put up 90+ points in both games, while allowing under 75 points in both, clinching a spot in the national championship.
To start the game, the Eagles seemed to be on their usual path to success as they outscored Central Missouri, 20-15. Although they had the lead, to finish the first stanza the Eagles missed their last 11-of-12 shots. In the second quarter, the Eagles were unable to break their shooting funk as they shot 40% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc as they were outscored 20-11.
Heading into halftime down by four, 35-31, some small adjustments needed to be made on the offensive side of things.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, those adjustments would not be made as they recorded just 21 points in the second half while shooting 8-of-34 from the field, under 25%.
The Eagles were led by Snyder who recorded 16 points and Renee Stimpert who added on 10.
For Central Missouri, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Paige Redmond, led them with 22 points in the title game.
The Eagles ultimately would lose, 66-52, ending their 73-game win streak.
2022-23 Season: TBD
After a stellar 2022-23 undefeated season, the Eagles have the opportunity to complete their second-ever 37-0 season topped off by a national championship.
Tune into this year’s national championship by heading over to wrdlfm.com for full LIVE in-game radio coverage. 88.9 WRDl’s very own Ethan Jenkins and Cade Cracas will be on the call.
2020: AU’s women’s basketball’s undefeated season that was never completed
The 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic put a stop to all sports seasons, but many may not have been as gut-wrenching as the Eagles’
written by Cade Cracas, posted: 02:45 p.m. March 26th
The Ashland University women’s basketball team is widely regarded as one of the most successful Divison II basketball programs in the 21st century. Through five appearances in the Elite Eight and Final Four the Eagles have never lost. In the national championship, the team has won two and lost two with a chance to find the program’s third title during the 2022-2023 season.
However, when taking a deeper look at the program’s historical archives, one season has an abrupt stop. That would be the 2019-2020 season, that due to a worldwide pandemic, came to a close prematurely, never to be resumed.
“Student-athletes from around the country went to NCAA Championships prepared to compete in one of the most memorable weeks of their lives only to see everything erased,” said Ashland University’s Director of Athletics, Al King.
On March 12, 2020, the NCAA canceled all remaining spring and winter seasons that were still ongoing. This decision was made based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat that threatened the NCAA’s ability to ensure the events do not contribute to the spread of the pandemic.
“It wasn’t a total shock because I remember seeing other things around the country starting to get canceled and different universities across the United States were delaying their students’ return to campus from spring break, but then to actually have our own tournament and the rest of our season canceled made it super real,” said current graduate guard Hallie Heidemann, who was a sophomore at the time.”
For the Eagles, when this was announced, they were sitting in Springfield, Mo., preparing for the Midwest Regional Tournament where they would be taking on the University of Southern Indiana in the opening round.
That opening round was set to take place on Friday, March 13, which was just one day after the season was canceled. The quarter-final round against USI would have been the Eagles’ sixth straight appearance in the regional tournament dating back to the 2014-2015 season.
Although that streak came to a close due to the cancellation, another streak in place, one much more difficult to hold, was ended.
That streak was an undefeated 31-0 overall record. That undefeated season for the Eagles would have been their second in program history, outside of the 2022-2023 season. While it is still counted as an undefeated season, the cancellation of the remaining games hurt the morale of the team.
“There aren’t many words to describe the feeling when we found out our season was over other than gut-wrenching. We were playing our best basketball, and I truly believe we would’ve won a National Championship,” said current Graduate Assistant Erin Daniels, who was a sophomore at the time. “Our hearts hurt for our four seniors because they deserved to finish their careers with another chance at winning it all.”
Although the team was unable to finish off the special season, Daniels was still appreciative of the many memories made.
“We may have been robbed of the chance to go far into the tournament, but we did end our season by beating Grand Valley for the third time that season on our home court AND for a GLIAC title,” emphasized Daniels. “The cancellation of our season was a great reminder that basketball is just something we do, and not who we are.”
Alongside Daniels, Heidemann put the season in perspective to her life.
“It was a reminder that it’s more than a game, it’s bigger than basketball, and at the end of the day basketball is always going to be just something that we do and never who we are,” she said.
After returning back to Ashland, Ohio, reality set in, but the Eagles showed that they fly together as support poured out.
“On Monday, I was back in the office after traveling with the women’s basketball team to Springfield, Mo. Four or five staff members came to me and said whatever was needed to do – whether it was in their area or not – they were ready and willing to help,” said King.
While the pandemic rolled on, the Eagles continued to be a light to those around them as they organized community outreach opportunities and service events.
Alongside being active in the community, they showcased drive and determination in the gym to get better and work to be back to speed after the pandemic.
“There will be tough days, but we are tough people. Times like these reveal character and in addition to size, speed and strength, we have plenty of character,” said King. “We’re not accustomed to failure. We won’t fall short now.”
The Eagles would most certainly not fall short and would use the loss of the 2019-2020 season as momentum and drive in the 2022-2023 season.
Three years removed from the pandemic, the Eagles are headed to the national championship to take on Minnesota Duluth with an opportunity to find the third championship in program history.
“This season has been just super special. While it definitely does not replace anything from that 2020 season, it has just been such an awesome experience in its own unique way,” said senior forward Annie Roshak. “We’re super pumped for one more game and to represent Ashland on the big stage.”
