One Streak Ends, AU’s Playoff Run is Just Beginning
March 2, 2004

Complete Box Score

Beware the “Eyes of March.”

Alanna Buurma had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Eagles in a first-round win over Northern Michigan. (File Photo)

You’ve seen the look before, eyes that show determination and passion. Basketball players who have that look own a focus as powerful as that found on an electron microscope.

The Ashland University women’s basketball team, winners of seven consecutive games, have that look. Tuesday (Mar. 2) at AU’s Kates Gymnasium the Eagles looked good in all phases of the game while taking apart Northern Michigan, 95-82 in a first-round Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoff game. This was the first time in 12 tries that the Eagles, now 22-6, were able to beat Northern Michigan (19-8).

Ashland, the GLIAC South Division champion, will play next in the GLIAC tournament, which will probably be hosted by North Division champion Lake Superior State. Ashland, Gannon, Ferris State and Lake Superior State make up the field of GLIAC survivors. AU is 2-2 against that group this season. The pairings for the tournament will be determined Wednesday.

As the all-time series indicates, NMU has had the Eagles’ number ever since the Eagles joined the GLIAC in 1995-96. But on Tuesday, the figures the Eagles put up would cause the ‘Cats to think they’re suffering through a case of blurred vision. AU senior forward Alanna Buurma had 23 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore guard Dee Bethune fired in 21 points. Junior forward Beth Everman almost joined Buurma with a double-double, Everman came off the pine to post 11 points and nine rebounds.

Freshman guard Amber Rall hit nine of 11 shots on the way to 18 points. In the last two games Rall is 20-of-22 (91 percent) shooting from the field.

AU manhandled the ‘Cats even though junior center Jackie Mason was shackled by foul trouble for most of the night. Mason got two early fouls and never got in the game’s flow. She eventually fouled out with six seconds to play, but that didn’t matter at that point. Mason finished with eight points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.

AU shot 54.9 percent (39-71) from the floor and outrebounded the visitors, 39-35. NMU had 17 turnovers compared to 15 for AU. The ‘Cats shot 42.9 percent (27-63) from the field and AU put NMU sharpshooter Tiffany Grubaugh in cold storage. Coming into this playoff contest, Grubaugh had scored 58 points over the last two games. She averages 19.9 ppg. AU limited her to 15 points on a 5-for-14 night.

AU led in points in the paint, 40-24. Buurma was responsible for much of that domination, she made 10-of-16 shots from the floor and many of those came in key. The Eagle bench outscored the ‘Cats’ reserves, 32-24 and in fastbreak points, AU ran away to a 14-4 advantage.

The Eagles took control of the game late in the first half. With 4:35 to go in the half Ashland led, 28-27. The Eagles outscored the ‘Cats, 20-5 the rest of the half to take a 48-32 halftime edge. Bethune had two triples and seven points and Rall added six points in that run.

NMU gamely tried to come back, but AU didn’t bend. With 8:50 remaining in regulation, Ashland was ahead, 79-59.

Point guard Emily Samuelson had 19 points to pace the Wildcats. Andrea Brooke recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Michelle Moard had 13 points and Holly Cole hit for 12 points.