FSU Records Narrow Home Win Over LSSU

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball team used the homecourt edge to snap a five-game losing streak as the Bulldogs beat Lake Superior State 60-59 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play on Thursday (Jan. 7) evening inside Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich.

The Bulldogs won their first game of the New Year on a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Kelsey DeNoyelles with 35 seconds remaining coupled with a big stop on the game's final possession in knocking off the Lakers, who were 4-2 in the conference heading into the contest.

Lake Superior State missed three potential game-winning shots in the final 25 seconds of the game, including a jumper from Nicole Marshall with three seconds to play.

FSU opened up a narrow 33-29 halftime edge after shooting 53.6% (15-28) from the floor in the opening half and limiting the Lakers to only 36% (9-25) shooting in the first frame. The Bulldogs led by as many as 12 points in the first period.

LSSU battled back in the second half and led by four points with 4:19 to play before FSU scored eight of the final 11 points of the game.

Overall, Ferris shot 51% (25-49) for the contest and held LSSU to only 31.6% (18-57) shooting as the Lakers were only nine-of-32 (28.1%) from the field in the final 20 minutes of the outing.

FSU also forced 17 turnovers and maintained a 22-8 edge in points scored inside the paint along with a 16-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

Junior forward Tiara Adams paced FSU with a game-high tying 16 points and had six rebounds with three steals and two assists. Meanwhile, DeNoyelles joined her in double-digits with 15 points as she finished six-of-nine overall from the floor.

Junior guard Becci Houdek tallied seven points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals in a solid all-around effort for FSU with freshman center Katy Fox contributing eight points along with three boards. Sophomore guard Tricia Principe also tallied seven points.

Despite the poor shooting overall, the Lakers managed to stay in the game by connecting on 10-of-29 (34.5%) three-pointers and 13-of-17 (76.5%) free throws. FSU was only three-of-nine (33.3%) beyond the arc and seven-of-11 (63.6%) at the stripe.

Ronlea Peterson led LSSU with 16 points while Maria Blazejewski added 11 points and Cassy Schemberger netted nine points with eight rebounds.

Ferris also had 18 assists and 10 steals compared to LSSU's 13 assists and eight thefts.

The Bulldogs improved to 3-8 overall and 2-4 in the GLIAC with the triumph in their first home game since Dec. 5. Meanwhile, the Lakers dropped to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in league action.

FSU squares off against Saginaw Valley State in a conference home contest as part of the "Basketball Bonanza" high school-college quadruple header on Saturday, Jan. 9, with the women's game scheduled for a 3 p.m. (EST) start at Wink Arena.

Bulldog Bites: LSSU had won 13 of the previous 19 series' meetings heading into the game ....... FSU's Becci Houdek garnered her 400th career point in the outing ...... Junior forward Amy Joostberns also scored her 200th career point ........ The win was Ferris' second-straight over the Lakers ......Saturday's "Basketball Bonanza" begins at 1 p.m. (EST) with Big Rapids and Chippewa Hills facing each other in a prep varsity girls contest. Tickets will be sold at the door for the all-day event.