The Ashland University women’s basketball team wasn’t intimidated by Wayne State, who came to Kates Gymnasium on Saturday ranked No. 5 in the country. The Eagles (12-6 overall and 8-4 in GLIAC) pulled off an impressive 84-68 win over the Warriors (14-2, 10-2), ending their 10-game winning streak and moving within two games of the GLIAC South Division lead.

It was certainly not a one-sided game—Ashland did not take the lead until there was about seven minutes left in the first half. Fortunately for them, they were able to maintain the lead for the remainder of the game—leaving AU Head Coach Sue Ramsey ecstatic.

“It was a total team-victory today,” Ramsey said. “I think we are back to having more confidence in our shooting.”

Indeed it was a team effort, with McKenzie Miller, Laina Snyder, and Taylor Woods each having 16, 15, and 14 points respectively. Impressively, the leading scorer of the team was freshman Andi Daugherty who had 23 points.

“Andi Daugherty had a tremendous game,” Ramsey said. “Her numbers offensively were outstanding.”

Daugherty went 10 for 14 in total field goals, including hitting three-of-four from the three point line.

“What [Daugherty] did defensively doesn’t even show up on the stat sheet,” Ramsey said. “She was all over the place.”

Daugherty attributed much of her success to her teammates.

“There is no reason for us to play intimidated,” Daugherty said. “We are far into our season. We might be young but we have to play experienced. Taylor was awesome today too. We would all get flustered and she would settle us down.”

Woods said she wouldn’t want to spend her final season on any other team.

 “All of us can knock down a jump shot,” she said. “We trust each other to do that. I won’t be here next season, but they will be fine.”

Wayne State was not an opponent for Ashland to take lightly. In addition to their winning streak coming into the game, the Warriors’ senior center Shareta Brown leads the conference in points, while leading the nation in rebounding, averaging 15.6 per game.

The Eagles were ready for her.

“We had a little bit of a double-team on Shareta,” Ramsey said. “We rebounded the heck out of the ball against the best rebounder in the conference.”

Many of the rebounds can also be attributed to Daugherty, who used a swatting technique under the hoop to direct the ball to one of her teammates.

“Our game plan was to double her,” Daugherty said. “If we couldn’t grab the ball with two hands, just knock it and let someone else get it just to keep it out of her hands. It was a great game plan from our coaches.”

Junior McKenzie Miller also brought her A-game, going four-for-six at the top of the key and consistently pulling off a successful fast-break lay-up.

“I love to come in and just be a spark off the bench,” Miller said. “That’s something that I can contribute to the team. I had to re-gain that, but I did a little bit better this time.”

Pulling off this win against Wayne State leaves the Eagles full of optimism as the season continues.

“It’s this time of year that teams either come together or fall apart,” Miller said. “I think this win is going to take us off into the season. Wayne is the best in the conference right now. To have an upset like that is a pretty awesome thing that we can just take and have confidence from.”

The women’s team will hit the road on Thursday when they take on Ohio Dominican, followed by another away game next Saturday against Tiffin.