Ferris Beats Urbana In First-Ever Matchup

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball squad got back on track with a decisive 85-58 non-league win over Urbana on Wednesday (Feb. 23) evening at the Grimes Center in Urbana, Ohio.

The Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing skid and improved to 12-13 overall this campaign with the victory in the first-ever matchup with the Blue Knights, who are a Division II independent school.

Four FSU players scored in double-figures with senior guard Becci Houdek (Canton) netting a team-high 15 points in leading the Bulldogs.  Senior forward Tiara Adams (Lansing/Waverly) added 14 points while junior guard Kelsey DeNoyelles (Mt. Pleasant/Sacred Heart) chipped in with 11 points. 

The Bulldogs also welcomed the return of senior center Andrea Clancy (Port Austin/North Huron), who started and tallied 11 points after missing the previous six games due to injury.

Ferris also received nine points from junior guard Tricia Principe (Kalamazoo/Mattawan) along with eight points by junior forward Lindsey Pettit (Portland) and seven points from sophomore guard Kylie Muntz (Dayton, Ohio/Wayne).

On the opposite side, Unique Lane had a game-best 17 points for Urbana, which dropped to 10-15 overall this season. Ashley Falknor recorded 10 points, but those were the only two Urbana players to reach double-figure scoring.

FSU led by nine points (39-30) at halftime before breaking the game open by outscoring Urbana 46-28 over the final 20 minutes of action.

Overall, Ferris shot 51.9% (28-54) from the floor and made six-of-13 (46.2%) three-pointers to go with 23-of-30 (76.7%) free throws.

Defensively, the Bulldogs also limited the Blue Knights to only 36.2% (21-58) shooting overall. They were four-of-16 (25%) beyond the arc and 12-of-15 (80%) at the stripe.

Ferris held a slim 36-35 rebounding edge and forced 23 Urbana turnovers while totaling only 17 miscues of its own.

The Bulldogs also dished out 19 assists with Muntz handing out a game-high five helpers.  Houdek had four assists and DeNoyelles netted three.  Adams and Muntz had three steals apiece as Ferris garnered 12 steals for the game.

Ferris State will return home for its regular-season finale against archrival Grand Valley State on Saturday (Feb. 26) at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.  Tipoff will follow the men's contest at approximately 3 p.m. (ET).

Saturday will also represent FSU's annual Senior Day contest as the Bulldogs will honor Adams, Clancy and Houdek prior to the game.  The game will be broadcast locally on Sunny 97.3 FM or online via the Bulldog Sports Network at www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com.

Bulldog Bites: Tiara Adams had a game-high eight rebounds for FSU ..... The Bulldogs played 12 different players and all saw at least six minutes of action or more ..... Ferris made 18-of-22 (81.8%) free throws in the final half ..... Ferris' reserves managed 28 points to only 21 by the Urbana reserves ..... Forty of FSU's 85 points came in the paint where the Bulldogs held a significant 40-26 edge ..... Ferris had 33 points off of Urbana's turnovers compared to only 15 points off miscues for the Blue Knights .... Both teams led once, but Ferris never trailed after the first seven minutes of the game.