With one week remaining in the regular season, teams are preparing for the 2026 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament. The Ashland Eagles are still battling for postseason positioning even in the final two games of their schedule. Ashland has won the last four G-MAC titles, dominating the conference in both regular season and postseason play. But this year, other teams are looking to make their statement.
The most dominant team in the G-MAC all season has been the Northwood Timberwolves, without a doubt. Northwood has won all but one conference matchup this season, going 17-1 so far. The Timberwolves have already clinched the top spot in the G-MAC, led by one of the most prolific duos in the nation. Senior guard Maeve St. John has torched the entire conference, but particularly the Eagles this season, averaging 19.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. She has dominated on the perimeter, and redshirt sophomore center Lea Holmes has controlled the interior, putting up 16.7 points and 7.4 boards per contest, along with a league leading 2.0 blocks. St. John and Holmes are second and third in conference scoring respectively. With those two leading the way, the Timberwolves have the best offense in the conference, scoring 75.3 points per game, which is over five points higher than the next best team.
Malone has jumped up to the second seed with their strong play as of late, with a 14-4 conference mark. The Pioneers have a great post player leading the way, with senior center Erin Kaufman scoring 16.7 points per game. Kaufman recently had her season-best performance against the Eagles on Feb. 19, scoring 33 points in 31 minutes. With no other players that average double-digit points, the Pioneers use their defense to their advantage. Malone gives up just 58.5 points per game, second in the G-MAC, only trailing Thomas More.
The Saints have the third seed (21-5, 13-5), led by senior forward Sereniti Webb, who has a strong presence down low. Thomas More has lots of versatile players, including senior forward Rylee Turner, redshirt sophomore guard Rylee Leonard and junior forward Izzy Rotert. Rotert and Turner are two of the three best shot blockers in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Walsh is currently fourth, with an 11-7 record. The Cavaliers have the top scorer in the G-MAC in senior forward Kiley Dyrlund. She averages 20.3 points per game as the lone 20-point scorer in the conference. Dyrlund also grabs 9.3 boards, shooting 57.5 percent from the floor. On the perimeter, junior guard Sydney Ludvigsen leads the G-MAC in three-pointers made with 63 at a 39.4 percent clip.
The Ashland Eagles are in a logjam, tied with Hillsdale and Findlay for fifth place. With a younger roster than years past, Ashland has been searching for consistency all season long. Leading the way has been the clear frontrunner for G-MAC Freshman of the Year Jenna Slates. Slates is putting up 16.0 points and a conference best 11.5 rebounds per game, shooting 50.8 percent from the field.
Hillsdale is led by junior guard Annalise Pietrzyk and junior forward Savannah Smith. Smith has come off the bench for most of the season, but puts up 13.0 points per game. Pietrzyk leads the Chargers in scoring with 14.4 points. The Findlay Oilers have a terrific post presence with senior forward Alyssa Ziehler putting up 14.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest. She has been one of the few walking double-doubles in the G-MAC this season. Kentucky Wesleyan is battling for the eighth and final playoff spot, with senior forward Ryan Neal and sophomore guard Emma Bruwer each giving the Panthers 12 and a half points per game.
The first round of the G-MAC tournament begins on Mar. 2, with the top four teams hosting their matchups. The semifinals occur on Mar. 6 and the conference championship on Mar. 7, with the games taking place at the home court of the highest seed remaining after the first round.
