ST JOSEPH, Mo. — Following a 76-67 victory over Glenville State, the Ashland University women's basketball team has clinched a spot in the NCAA Division II national championship.
The victory came after the Eagles got off to a fast start in Wednesday's Final Four matchup, leading the reigning champs 41-27 at halftime.
The Eagles were led by Savaya Brockington, Annie Roshak and Haley Smith, who ultimately worked to hold off the Pioneers' attempt at a late-game comeback.
Roshak notched a double-double, recording 17 points and 10 rebounds. Brockington had 16 points and five rebounds in the victory as well. Haley Smith also contributed to the team's success, earning a double-double as well with 15 points and 16 rebounds, respectively.
The undefeated and No. 1 ranked Eagles (36-0) will travel to Dallas, Texas, to compete on Saturday, April 1, for the championship title against the No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (32-3). The Eagles are looking to earn their first title since 2017 and third in the program's history.
The NCAA D-II national championship, which will be televised on the CBS Sports Network, is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. from the American Airlines Center.
"I'm thankful we have a week," said Ashland head coach Kari Pickens. "Minnesota-Duluth is a great team. It's going to be a battle for us. But we have a really, really good team. A really deep team, so I'm excited for the challenge."
Pickens also has a chance at making history becoming the first woman in NCAA D-II history to win a national basketball championship as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.
The Bulldogs earned a spot in the championship after knocking down Catawba College 70-59 on Wednesday evening.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above previously aired on 3News on March 5, 2023.
