FSU Women End Year On Winning Note

Postgame Audio File:
Coach Tracey Dorow & Amy Joostberns
(MP3 File) - (Windows Media Version)

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball team wrapped up its 2009-10 campaign on a winning note as the Bulldogs recorded a 61-53 triumph over Wayne State in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play Saturday (Feb. 27) afternoon inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

The victory was the second-straight at home to conclude the season for FSU, which finished with an 8-19 overall record and a 7-15 mark in GLIAC play with their entire roster slated to return intact next season.

"It was nice to end on a solid note," said FSU head coach Tracey Dorow. "We grew a lot as a team and it is too bad that it is over."

The Bulldogs bolted out to a 36-23 halftime edge and held off Wayne State near the end as the Warriors also finished their year with an identical 8-19 overall ledger accomponied by a 6-16 league finish.

"It is always nice to end the season on a win and it rarely happens," Dorow said. "We lost a lot of close games and we need to push them harder so they are more prepared to pull out those games next year."

Sophomore guard Tricia Principe tallied a game-high 16 points and added five rebounds with four assists for the Bulldogs. FSU also received 14 points by sophomore guard Kelsey DeNoyelles along with an 11-point and five-rebound effort from junior forward Amy Joostberns.

Ferris shot 42.9% (21-49) for the game and limited WSU to only 33.9% (19-56) shooting on the defensive end. The Bulldogs also forced 15 turnovers and held a 36-32 edge on the boards.

FSU made four-of-15 (26.7%) three-point tries and hit 15-of-19 (78.9%) free throws while Wayne State converted four-of-19 (21.1%) attempts beyond the arc and was 11-of-12 (91.7%) at the charity stripe.

Ferris tallied 15 assists in the game as three players totaled three assists or more. The Bulldogs had 16 turnovers, but came up with seven steals and a blocked shot.

Meanwhile, WSU netted nine assists, seven steals and a single block as well.

Ferris was outscored 16-8 in points off turnovers along with 8-2 in fast break production. However, the Bulldogs never trailed in the game after jumping out to an early 13-2 advantage only five minutes into the game.

FSU built its lead to as many as 15 points with 11:11 to play before the Warriors battled back and ended up outscoring the Bulldogs 30-25 over the final 20 minutes of the game.

"We played real well the first half," Dorow said. "We subbed a lot today and everyone got to play so it is a nice feeling when you can keep rotating people in and out to give everyone an opportunity."

Saturday's victory came before a crowd that numbered 1,800 fans by the time the men's contest rolled around as the Bulldogs held "Operation Giveaway" with a number of giveaways, prizes and more for fans to enjoy.

Bulldog Bites: Ferris State improved to 33-25 all-time versus Wayne State with the victory ..... The win avenged an earlier 69-63 setback to the Warriors in the Motor City this season (Jan. 21) ........ Kelsey DeNoyelles ended the season with three consecutive games of 14 points or more .......... Tricia Principe finished the season with a .925 (86-93) free throw percentage, which is a single single-season record.  She ranked first in the nation in the category heading into the final two games ..... Junior guard Becci Houdek had four steals in the game ....... The Bulldogs' lone senior, Andrea Clancy, missed the entire year due to injury and will return next season.