The Ashland women’s basketball team played the first official basketball game in the renovated Kates Gymnasium on Saturday, opening the doors in a winning fashion with an 83-72 victory over Cedarville.

The win was AU’s 44th in a row at home and continued a 14-game winning streak that dates back to last season.

After leading 16-13 with 12:53 to play in the first half, the Eagles made a run before halftime to take a 15-point advantage (44-29) into the break.

Though the Yellow Jackets hung around in the second half, they never got closer than six points in the season-opener for both teams.

Senior guard Alyssa Miller and junior guard Taylor Woods both showed their experience as the only returning starters from last year’s national championship team.

Miller scored a career-high 25 points to go with eight rebounds and three assists, while Woods had 24 points, six assists and five rebounds.

In the first half, the Eagles were 50 percent shooting from the field (16 of 32) and even though they cooled off in the second half – finishing at 44.6 percent (25 of 56) for the game – they shot 87.1 percent (27 of 31) from the free throw line.  

Of the freshmen, forward Suzy Wollenhaupt had the most impressive debut with 10 points and six rebounds. Guard Rachelle Morrison played 18 minutes off the bench and provided nine points on 2-for-3 shooting. 

Sophomore McKenzie Miller had six points and four rebounds in her first start.

For Cedarville, Kayla Linkous (16 points, 11 rebounds), Kayla Jenerette (13 points), Taylor Vander Plas (12 points), Raegan Ryan (12 points) and Kaysie Brittenham (10 points) all scored in double figures. 

The Yellow Jackets also outrebounded the undersized Eagles, 38-33.

Ashland, ranked 15th in the NCAA Division II USA Today Coaches’ preseason poll, will host Indianapolis on Sunday in their first real test of the season. 

The Greyhounds were among “Others Receiving Votes” in the preseason poll. Sunday’s game tips off at 2 p.m.