FSU's Kylie Muntz works against MTU's Sarah Stream (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech)
FSU's Kylie Muntz works against MTU's Sarah Stream (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech)

#4 MTU Too Much For FSU In Second Half

Postgame Audio Report:
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Houghton, Mich. - The Ferris State women's basketball gave nationlly-ranked Michigan Tech all it could handle for the first 20 minutes of play, but in the end a strong second half fueled the host Huskies to a 64-41 triumph in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play on Thursday (Feb. 11) evening at MTU's Student Development Complex Gymnasium in Houghton, Mich.

The Bulldogs battled MTU for much of the first half.  After MTU took a 10-point lead only nine minutes into the game, the Bulldogs answered with 10-straight points to tie up the game before MTU closed the half on a 9-3 run to take a 29-23 advantage at the break.

FSU forced 10 turnovers in the first half of play and limited MTU to only 37.9% shooting in the initial frame, but managed to shoot only 32% on the offensive end.  Junior forward

Tiara Adams tallied 12 points in the first half for the Bulldogs and was matched by Katie Wysocky's 12 points for the Huskies.

However, in the second half, the Huskies quickly jumped their lead to 46-27 only five minutes into the frame and never looked back in improving to 21-1 overall and 16-1 in the GLIAC with their 11th-straight victory.

FSU dropped to 6-16 overall and 5-12 in league play as the Bulldogs had only seven available players for the game due to injury and illness.

Senior guard Katie Zimmerman connected on seven three-point baskets and finished with a game-high 21 points in leading the Huskies.  She was joined in double-figures by Wysocky, who netted 14 points and 17 rebounds in a double-double effort.

Adams paced the Bulldogs with 14 points and 10 boards for the game, but was the only FSU player to reach double-figure scoring.  Sophomore guard Lindsey Pettit chipped in with eight points and sophomore guard Tricia Principe added seven points.

Ferris turned the ball over only 10 times and forced 13 Husky turnovers.  However, MTU owned a decisive 43-26 rebounding edge and grabbed 12 offensive boards that led to a 10-2 advantage in second chance scoring.

FSU was held to 32.6% (15-46) shooting and was only one-of-10 (10%) from beyond the three-point arc along with a 10-of-13 (76.9%) effort at the free throw line.

Meanwhile, Michigan Tech converted 24-of-59 (40.7%) field goal tries and hit 15-of-31 (48.4%) long range attempts.  Wysocky made the team's only free throw attempt of the game as FSU was whistled for only nine personal fouls.

The Huskies sank nine of their three-point field goals in the second half when they shot 52.9% from beyond the arc.

Ferris totaled six steals, five assists and four blocked shots compared to MTU's 19 assists, three blocks and two thefts.

Ferris State continues its trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula by visiting Northern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 13, for an 11 a.m. (EST) league contest inside the Berry Events Center at Marquette, Mich.