Women's basketball downed by undefeated Ashland

Women's basketball downed by undefeated Ashland: In its GLIAC home opener, the Wayne State women’s basketball team (2-3 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) lost to the No. 1 Ashland Eagles (9-0 overall, 3-0 GLIAC), 77-58.

While the final score might indicate otherwise, the Warriors got off to a good start against the nation’s top-ranked team.

After the Eagles scored the first basket of the game, WSU went on a 7-0 run. But Ashland responded to tie the game at 11-11, and take a three-point lead, 14-11. The Warriors would tie it at 14.

That was at the 13:11 mark of the first half. For the next eight minutes, the two teams played each other close with neither team gaining a sizeable advantage – the largest lead was four points.

With 5:09 remaining in the half, the score was tied at 30-30.

But the game would take a turn for the worst, at least for the Warriors.

Ashland used a 15-3 run to take a 45-33 lead into halftime.

Things didn’t fare much better for the Warriors in the second half, as the Eagles continued to lead by double digits for most of the game. WSU would get the deficit into single digits early in the half, but never got closer than seven points (51-44).

The Eagles cruised to victory in the second half, leading by as many as 21 points.

They dominated the paint, outscoring WSU 44-28 on the inside, and outrebounded them by 18 (54-36).

The Warriors didn’t have an answer for the Preseason GLIAC Player of the Year, Kari Daughtery, as her 29 points and 18 rebounds were both game- highs.

A bright spot for the Warriors was Phaebe Colbert’s performance. She tallied a double-double, recording 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead WSU in both categories. Talisha Bridges contributed with 13 points and five rebounds, while Deanna Crumpton finished with eight points and five boards.

The Warriors host the Lake Erie College Storm Dec. 9 for a 4 p.m. tip.