AU Women Turn Back Charleston
December 20, 2003

Complete Box Score

On the final Saturday (Dec. 20) prior to Christmas, there were no gifts to be had at Ashland University’s Kates Gymnasium. Leave that to Lazarus and J.C. Penney’s, at Kates Gymnasium the prices to be paid were high and there were no giveaways.

The Ashland University women’s basketball team engaged the University of Charleston in a knock-down-drag-it-out affair that went to the Eagles, 86-78. The win ups AU’s record to 8-3 and would be considered one of Ashland’s most impressive victories in the young season. Charleston is 5-2.

Ashland was clinging to a 78-75 lead with 53 seconds left in regulation when junior guard-forward Angie Heintz came up with a steal. Senior forward Isolina Brescia was then fouled by Laura Kinsler and when Brescia hit both attempts, the Eagles had the game well in hand. A layup by Brescia and a free throw by sophomore guard Dee Bethune bumped the lead up to 83-75 with 25 ticks remaining in the game.

Bethune made a living at the free throw line, hitting 17 of 21 attempts. That broke the school single-game record of 15, set by Beth Fetchu against Southern Indiana in 1994. As a team, AU connected on 34 of 43 free throw tries (79.1 percent).

Junior center Jackie Mason nearly joined Bethune in the Ashland record book. Mason collected a career-high 19 rebounds. The school single-game record is 20, held by Carissa Mahoney. Mason didn’t have one of her better offensive games, making four of 12 shots from the floor, but she did everything else without a problem. She rejected four shots, handed out four assists and picked up one steal.

Brescia and senior forward Alanna Buurma joined Bethune in double digits – Brescia and Buurma both had 14 points. Buurma had seven boards and Brescia and junior forward Beth Everman had six rebounds apiece.

Courtney Thomas had 33 points to lead Charleston.

The Eagles led, 40-33 at halftime. AU had 26 turnovers and the visitors scored 27 points off of those miscues. The Eagles won the battle of the boards, 56-41 and that created a 19-10 spread for the home team in second-chance points.

Ashland has one more game before the Christmas break. On Monday (Dec. 22), the Eagles will host Tiffin at 7 p.m.