Bulldog Women Claim Victory In First Regular-Season Home Tilt

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball team earned a win in its first regular-season home contest of the 2012-13 campaign as the Bulldogs topped Ohio Dominican 69-56 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action on Thursday (Dec. 6) night at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 3-3 overall this season and 2-1 in the GLIAC standings.  It marked the first win at home for first-year head coach Colleen Lamoreaux-Tate.

The Bulldogs shot 46.4% in the opening half in building a 34-20 halftime advantage.  FSU increased its advantage to as many as 26 points with 10 minutes to go in the contest and held on for the double-digit victory.

Junior guard Sarah DeShone (Elkhart, Ind./Jimtown) netted a game-high 26 points for the Bulldogs on seven-of-11 shooting from the floor.  She also made all 10 of her free throw attempts and hit both of her three-point tries while adding two assists, three rebounds and three steals.

Besides DeShone's game-high production, FSU also received 15 points, three steals and two assists from junior forward Ashley Rando (Jackson/Northwest).  She sank six-of-11 field goal tries and was three-of-five from beyond the arc.

Ferris State limited Ohio Dominican to only 32.7% shooting for the game, including only 26.7% in the opening half of action as ODU managed only eight made field goals in the initial frame.  The Panthers hit three-of-14 (21.4%) three's to go with 19-of-27 (70.4%) free throws.

Overall, the Bulldogs made 42.9% of their field goal opportunities and hit nine-of-17 (52.9%) three's along with 12-of-22 (54.5%) free throws.

FSU owned a 41-33 rebounding advantage for the night and came away with 16 offensive boards to 13 for the Panthers.  That helped lead to a 19-9 margin in second chance production.

The Bulldogs also forced 21 turnovers and posted a decisive 28-8 margin in points off turnovers.

Besides DeShone and Rando, the Bulldogs also received eight points and seven rebounds from redshirt freshman guard Katie Mavis (St. Joseph) off the bench, which helped lead to a 16-3 advantage in bench production.  Sophomore center Hannah Hoffman (Okemos) contributed eight points and eight rebounds as well in the triumph.

Ohio Dominican was led by Kacee Hockenberry's team-best 24 points in the loss.  Melissa Scherpenberg added eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds in the setback as ODU fell to 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the GLIAC.  FSU held the Panthers' leading scorer Katelyn Stuckey to eight points in the contest.

Ferris State finished with 11 assists, 11 steals and two blocked shots with the Panthers netting five assists, 11 steals and no blocks for the game.

Ohio Dominican's only lead came early in the game when they led by three with 19:32 to play in the initial half.

Ferris State hosts the Tiffin Dragons in GLIAC play on Saturday, Dec. 8, at Wink Arena.  Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. (ET) and the game can be heard live on Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling (231) 591-2888 or online at StarTickets.com.