Late NMU Stop Dooms Bulldogs At Home
Postgame Audio File: Tracey Dorow & Becci
Houdek
(MP3 Version)
- (Windows Media
Version)
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball
squad took Northern Michigan to the wire, but came out on the short
end of a close 56-54 decision on Thursday (Jan. 28) evening in
Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play at
FSU's Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids.
The Bulldogs battled back from a 12-point deficit with 14:49 to
play and had a chance to tie or take the lead as the game was
winding down. However, a jumper from junior guard Becci
Houdek on FSU's final posssession came up short with three
seconds remaining and the Wildcats were able to preserve the
victory.
"We did some good things, but there were too many times we took
quick shots and rushed them," said FSU head coach Tracey
Dorow. "We didn't do a very good job rebounding and gave
up too many offensive rebounds so it shouldn't have ever came down
to that last play."
With the win, NMU improved to 13-5 overall and won for the 10th
time in 13 league contests this campaign. FSU fell to 5-13 overall
and 4-9 in GLIAC action as the Bulldogs returned home after playing
five consecutive conference games on the road in a two-week
span.
Houdek led the Bulldogs with 12 points, six assists, five rebounds
and three steals on the night. She was joined in double-digits by
junior forward Tiara Adams with 10 points, but those were the only
two FSU players to total more than seven points in the outing.
Sophomore guard Tricia Principe chipped in with
seven points, freshman guard Kylie Muntz scored
seven points and freshman forward Leah Kebler
contributed seven points with six rebounds.
FSU played without the services of junior starting forward
Amy Joostberns due to injury. However, the
Bulldogs did welcome back junior guard Stephanie
DeNoyelles, who saw her first action of the season and
played six minutes off the bench after returning from a knee
injury.
The Wildcats shot only 34.5% (20-58) for the game with a
nine-of-25 (36%) effort behind the three-point arc and a
seven-of-12 (58.3%) showing at the free throw stripe. They did
outrebound FSU, though, by a 41-31 count and grabbed 12 offensive
boards compared to only two for the Bulldogs.
NMU was paced by Christa Erickson's game-high 18 points, which
included six three-point baskets. Steffani Stoeger added 12 points
and Angie Leckson tallied 10 points to go with nine rebounds in the
middle.
Overall, FSU converted 22-of-52 (42.3%) field goal tries along
with four-of-eight (50%) three-pointers and six-of-eight (75%) free
throws.
Northern Michigan racked up 14 assists, six steals and three
blocked shots in the game with FSU recording 12 assists, six steals
and three blocks as well.
The loss was the fourth-straight for the Bulldogs and FSU dropped
to 4-3 overall at home this season with the setback, which began a
four-game homestand for Ferris State.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 27-24 halftime edge in a game that
featured four lead changes with the score tied five different
times.
Ferris State continues its homestand by hosting nationally
fourth-ranked Michigan Tech on Saturday, Jan. 30, starting at 1
p.m. (EST) inside Wink Arena. Tickets will be available at the door
for the Kids Day contest.