Ashland blasts past Harding, secures spot in title game

Harding University players had to have a good feeling about the position they were in midway through the second quarter of an NCAA Division II national semifinal when they were giving Ashland fits at both ends of the court.

The No. 1- ranked Eagles, though, have been like a vial of nitroglycerin in that they can explode at any time.

That time turned out to be a 14- 0 run during a three- minute stretch of the second quarter, and it propelled the Eagles to a 90- 77 victory over the Bison on Wednesday night before a national television audience on CBS Sports Network and a capacity crowd in Alumni Hall at Ohio Dominican.

Ashland ( 36- 0) will play for its second national championship against Virginia Union ( 28- 4) at 7 p. m. Friday. The Eagles also won the title in 2013.

“We went on a big run and that helped open the game,’’ coach Robyn Fralick said. “We had a lot of energy in that stretch.’’

Forward Laina Snyder led the Eagles with 25 points, followed by another AllAmerican, forward Andi Daugherty with 23.

Snyder said the team came to Columbus with plenty of confidence.

“I think Andi and me are pretty big competitors, and you put a game in front of us and we can’t lose,’’ she said. “We just attacked it.’’

Harding ( 31- 4), which won its first NCAA Tournament games ever this season in its third appearance, was in great shape after Caroline Hogue’s three- point play cut the lead to 36- 32 with 4: 45 remaining in the second quarter.

But the Bison had to be thinking that they were a long way from Arkansas seeing a building packed with fans wearing purple and gold in what amounted to an Ashland home game. Its campus is a little more than an hour away.

In a span of 58 seconds, guard Maddie Dackin hit long three- pointers around a layup off an offensive rebound by Snyder. Dackin had four threes on the night.

“All the credit goes to my team,’’ Dackin said. “I was wide open for them and they got me the ball.’’

The run continued with a three- pointer by Daugherty, a layup off the fast break by Johnson and a free throw by Peare.

Just like that, the Bison trailed 50- 32 with 1: 41 left in the half.

That has been life for Ashland opponents this season. Only three teams — Bellarmine, Michigan Tech and Lake Erie — have managed to get within 10 points.

Scarier still was the fact Daugherty sat out six minutes after picking of up her second foul in the first quarter.

Ashland was 31 of 62 shooting overall and 10 of 22 from three- point range.