Eagle Women Looking to Change Luck
January 14, 2003

Ashland-Findlay women’s basketball games normally have plenty of spice. But the kind of ingredients found in these games aren’t located on most kitchen spice racks.

Intensity is never a problem when the Eagles and Oilers clash. Thursday (Jan. 16, 5:30 p.m.), the two schools renew their rivalry in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup.

The Eagles are 7-9, 2-5 and tied for fourth in the GLIAC South Division. AU is looking to break a six-game losing streak.

Findlay is 5-13 and 2-4 in the conference. The Oilers are sitting in third place in the division.

The Eagles haven’t reached 70 points in the any of their last four games. Saturday at home against Ferris State, AU led, 36-30 at halftime. But over the final 20 minutes, the Eagles shot 39.1 percent (9-23) from the floor. That and a total of 25 turnovers resulted in an 80-66 loss to the Bulldogs.

“We need to get back to taking care of the basketball and that’s a confidence thing, moving the ball with confidence and not turning it over,” said AU head coach Sue Ramsey. “Defensively, we need to get to owning the boards. We need to allow just one shot for the opponents.”

A game loaded with intensity like Thursday’s could be just what the Eagles need to turn their fortunes around.

“There’s a familiarity,” admitted Ramsey. “Some of our players were recruited by Findlay and chose to come to Ashland. That always stirs up some emotion. It’s a good rivalry.”

Whatever success the Eagles have figures to start with junior forward Alanna Buurma and sophomore guard-forward Beth Everman. Buurma, who has five double-doubles this year, including two last week, is averaging 14.9 ppg., and 7.3 rpg. Everman checks in at 11.9 ppg., and 6.0 rpg. Another scoring option is junior guard Isolina Brescia (10.5 ppg.).

Buurma is known as one of the GLIAC’s top all-around performers and her numbers back up that reputation. Buurma is eighth in the league in field goal percentage (.575) and seventh in free throw percentage (.855). She’s eighth in rebounding and 11th in scoring.

The Oilers began the year 1-10 but have rallied to go 4-3 since then. Findlay has just one player averaging in double digits in scoring – 6-1 senior center Lydia Carpenter (11.9 ppg.). Another inside player, 6-3 junior Zsofia Horvath, has been a consistent factor on the boards. She’s averaging 7.1 rpg.

“I think they started off struggling and now they’re starting to find some combinations, some ways to win,” noted Ramsey.