Bulldog Women Earn Road Split With Win

Columbus, Ohio - The Ferris State University women's basketball squad snapped a two-game skid with a 69-56 victory over Ohio Dominican in the Bulldogs' first-ever road contest against the previously unbeaten Panthers on Saturday (Dec. 3) afternoon in ODU's Alumni Hall at Columbus, Ohio.

FSU earned a split of its two-game trip to Ohio with the victory as FSU improved to 3-2 overall and picked up its first league win (1-1) of the season.

The Bulldogs built an 11-point halftime advantage and outscored the Panthers by two in the second half to earn the triumph.

Sophomore guard Sarah DeShone (Elkhart, Ind./Jimtown) paced FSU with a game-high tying 18 points while freshman forward Christina Branch (Grand Rapids/West Michigan Lutheran) notched a double-double with 16 points and a contest-best 10 rebounds.  Senior guard Tricia Principe (Kalamazoo/Mattawan) chipped in nine points while sophomore forward Nikki Arner (Ludington) contributed seven points.

Ferris State limited ODU to only 33.9% shooting for the game and forced 18 turnovers in the game.

The Bulldogs converted 40.4% (21-52) of their field goal attempts and sank seven-of-18 (38.9%) free throws while hitting 20-of-21 (95.2%) free throws.

Ohio Dominican was only five-of-21 (23.8%) beyond the arc and 11-of-15 (73.3%) at the stripe.

ODU was led in scoring by Katelyn Stuckey with 18 points.  Christina Pentaudi added 11 points.

The Bulldogs had 18 turnovers and totaled 13 steals with eight assists and six blocked shots, including five from Arner.  Meanwhile, the Panthers had 11 assists and eight thefts while both teams finished with 37 rebounds.

Ferris State outscored ODU 28-24 in the paint and 18-12 off turnovers, but Ohio Dominican held a 12-2 edge in fast break production.

With the loss, the Panthers fell to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the GLIAC.

The victory was FSU's second series' triumph over the Panthers following a home win in the first-ever matchup a year ago in Big Rapids.

FSU will have one week off until they return to the floor next Saturday, Dec. 10, at Northwood. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. (ET) inside the Bennett Sports Center at Midland, Mich.