Big Second Half Leads Michigan Tech Past FSU In Women's Action

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball squad bolted out to an early lead, but visiting Michigan Tech rallied back in the second half to score a 78-70 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) victory on Thursday (Feb. 6) night at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs led by seven points only seven minutes into the game and held a three-point lead at halftime before the Huskies outscored FSU 41-30 over the final 20 minutes to notch the triumph.

Earlier this season, Michigan Tech had also fought back from a double-digit second half deficit to beat FSU 71-70 in Houghton.

Sophomore guard Danielle Blake tallied a game-high 19 points for the Huskies and pulled down nine rebounds to lead MTU to the win. Michigan Tech improved to 16-4 overall and 14-2 in GLIAC action with the triumph.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs had three players reach double-figure scoring in falling to 6-11 overall and 6-9 in league action. Sophomore guard Dena Droste led the way with 16 points while connecting on four-of-six three's with both senior guard Sarah DeShone and sophomore guard Katie Mavis netting 13 points each.

The Huskies shot 46.7% for the game, including 50% in the final half, while limiting FSU to only 31.3% shooting for the contest. FSU converted only 25.7% of its field goals in the final half.

Additionally, Michigan Tech also made nine-of-19 (47.4%) three's along with 13-of-18 (72.2%) free throws compared to FSU's five-of-11 (45.5%) effort beyond the arc and 23-of-30 (76.7%) showing at the line.

Besides Blake, the Huskies received 15 points from Jillian Ritchie along with 14 by Mackenzie Perttu and 11 from Kerry Gardner.

MTU outrebounded the Bulldogs 44-40 for the night althougth FSU posted 11 offensive boards to only five for the Huskies. Despite that fact, though, the Huskies outscored FSU in second chance production.

Ferris State took care of the ball as the Bulldogs totaled only six turnovers to 11 for Michigan Tech and also recorded nine steals to four for the Huskies. MTU had all four of the blocked shots in the game and picked up 20 assists with FSU netting 12 helpers.

DeShone paced FSU on the glass with eight rebounds and Droste added seven with both sophomore forward Christina Branch and junior center Hannah Hoffman contributing five boards each.

Ritchie and Emily Harrison each added seven rebounds to go with BLake's nine on the Michigan Tech side.

Ferris State is back in action at home on Saturday (Feb. 8) as the Bulldogs host Northern Michigan inside Jim Wink Arena starting at 1 p.m. (ET). The contest opens up a tripleheader between the Bulldogs and the Wildcats at the Ewigleben Sports Complex with FSU also hosting NMU in men's basketball and hockey action the same day.