The Ashland women’s basketball team traveled to Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan this weekend looking to improve their position in the GLIAC tournament but came back to Ashland with two consecutive losses, falling to nationally ranked Michigan Tech, 68-50 and Northern Michigan, 74-66.

 

Michigan Tech

 

The Eagles went into their affair with the eighth-ranked Huskies at SDC gym looking for some momentum for the upcoming postseason. An Ashland win would have been the Eagles’ first at Michigan Tech since Jan. 24, 2008, when they won 61-60.

Michigan Tech had other ideas though, as they jumped out to a 14-3 lead early in the half and never looked back.

The Huskies, one of the best teams in the country when it comes to defending their own floor, won their 25th straight game and also clinched the regular season GLIAC title as well as the opportunity to host the GLIAC Final Four.

The Eagles were outrebounded on the day, 41-32 as Daiva Gerbec, who leads the conference in rebounding at just over 11, finished with just six. Gerbec finished with a team-high, 13 points on four-of-11 shooting. Mikaela Lengal came off the bench and contributed 12 points in the losing effort. Ashland was able to improve on their free throw percentage Thursday, which leads the nation,by shooting 17-for-21.

 

Northern Michigan

 

If the trip to Michigan Tech was intimidating, the travel up to Northern Michigan was a dreaded one for head coach Sue Ramsey and the Eagles, who had never won in Husky land. After Saturday’s 74-66 loss, Ashland is now 0-11 all-time at Northern Michigan.

The Eagles were in the game at the half, down by only five going into the intermission at 33-28, but the Huskies jumped out quickly in the second half, extending their lead to 11 just 57 seconds into the half.

The Eagles fought their way back and tied the game at 60 apiece when Gerbec converted a mid-range jumper with 3:23 left in regulation, but from that point on, it was all Huskies. Northern Michigan converted on all eight of their foul shots in the final three minutes and outscored Ashland 14-6 to pull away late.

Ashland committed 20 turnovers on the day, resulting in 23 Husky points. Gerbec led the Eagles’ charge by notching her 14th double-double of the season, compiling 16 points and 11 rebounds. She received helped from sophomore guard Lindsay Tenyak, as she poured in 13 points and senior guard Liz Tyler, who scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.

The Eagles now sit in the middle of the GLIAC South standings and are left looking up at Findlay with one week left in the regular season. Ashland’s record stands at 15-9 overall and 10-7 in the GLIAC.

Findlay is one game better, 16-8 and 11-6 in conference. Ashland will travel to Ohio Dominican Thursday before returning to Kates Gymnasium for the final time this season to take on the Storm of Lake Erie.