Ashland University's women's basketball team's 18-game 2020-21 regular-season schedule was revealed on Thursday (Nov. 12) afternoon by the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
In a COVID-19 pandemic-induced change, instead of women's/men's basketball doubleheaders for the upcoming season, each team will play host to its opponent twice in the same weekend, except for its travel partner. The Eagles are scheduled to open the new season at Kates Gymnasium on the weekend of Jan. 7-10 with a pair of contests against Ferris State.
The 2020-21 regular season is slated to end on the weekend of Feb. 25-27 with two games at and against Lake Superior State. Details on the 2021 GLIAC Tournament, including dates and format, will be determined by the conference at a later date, as will guidance regarding fans at home venues.
"Our players are thrilled to have a schedule to look forward to," said Ashland third-year head coach
Kari Pickens, whose career winning percentage of .952 (60-3) is the best in NCAA women's basketball history, minimum of 60 games. "We have been working diligently to control the controllables and put ourselves in a position to compete, so it's nice to have games to look forward to.
"We understand that it will be a season unlike any other, but we are committed to pursuing our program's vision no matter what the year looks like."
The start of the 2020-21 campaign was pushed back due to the continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The GLIAC announced on Aug. 12 a suspension of all sports competition through the end of the 2020 calendar year.
Ashland has two returning starters in senior forward
Karlee Pireu (10.9 ppg., 4.7 rpg., 56.8 FG%, 80.0 FT%) and junior guard
Hallie Heidemann (11.6 ppg., 56.4 FG%, 51.2 3FG%), and one of the conference's top players off the bench a season ago in sophomore forward
Annie Roshak (10.5 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 57.7 FG%, 88.3 FT%).
Over the last nine seasons, perhaps the best nine-season stretch in NCAA Division II women's basketball history, Ashland University has an overall record of 277-27 (.911), two D-II national championships, two D-II national runner-up finishes, eight D-II postseason qualifications, seven GLIAC Tournament titles, six GLIAC regular-season titles, seven GLIAC South Division titles and a D-II-record 73-game winning streak.
Ashland also is the only NCAA Division II women's basketball program to have two undefeated seasons all-time (37-0 in 2016-17, 31-0 in 2019-20).
In the last five seasons alone, the Eagle women have had both the best record in NCAA Division II (164-6, .965), and the most wins.
2020-21 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
(will be updated with exact dates/times and GLIAC Tournament information)
Jan. 7-10 – FERRIS STATE (2 games)
Jan. 14-17 – at Grand Valley State (2 games)
Jan. 21-24 – SAGINAW VALLEY STATE (2 games)
Jan. 26 – WAYNE STATE (1 game)
Jan. 28-31 – DAVENPORT (2 games)
Feb. 4-7 – at Parkside (2 games)
Feb. 11-14 – PURDUE NORTHWEST (2 games)
Feb. 16 – at Wayne State (1 game)
Feb. 18-21 – at Northwood (2 games)
Feb. 25-27 – at Lake Superior State (2 games)
AU
WBKB/DS
