Findlay Women Battle Back To Beat FSU

Replay Bulldog Sports Network Audio Broadcast

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball squad led for much of the way, but in the end it was Findlay who emerged with a 82-67 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) win on Saturday (Feb. 19) at Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs built a 12-point first half lead with 13:35 to go in the frame and owned a 34-30 edge at the break after shooting 51.9% (14-27) in the initial period.  However, the Oilers fought their way back into the contest and eventually took the lead for good with 8:30 to play.

Findlay outscored the Bulldogs 26-11 over the final nine minutes of the contest in improving to 16-8 overall and 11-6 in the GLIAC.

Ferris State dropped to 11-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.  The loss virtually eliminates the Bulldogs from the conference tournament as FSU currently ranks 10th overall in the GLIAC standings with only one game left in regular-season action.  The top eight teams at the end of the year earn berths into the league tournament.

The Bulldogs were led by senior forward Tiara Adams (Lansing/Waverly), who had 17 points and grabbed five rebounds.  She was joined in double-figures by junior guard Kelsey DeNoyelles (Mt. Pleasant/Sacred Heart) with 15 points, but those were the only two FSU players to reach double-digit scoring.

The Oilers had four players reach double-figures as Clare Aubry scored a game-high 25 points, Kayla Brown added 19 points, Laura Bardall netted 18 points and Kaitlyn Nelson scored 15 points.

Ferris State shot 47.3% (26-55) overall for the game and was seven-of-20 (35%) from beyond the three-point arc along with eight-of-10 (80%) at the free throw line.

On the other side, Findlay was 27-of-54 (50%) from the floor and hit seven-of-20 (35%) three's along with 21-of-25 (84%) free throws.

FSU was outrebounded 32-24 for the game and gave up 10 offensive boards, which led to an 18-4 advantage for the Oilers in second chance scoring.  FSU also had nine turnovers compared to only six for Findlay as the Oilers outpaced FSU 15-8 in points off miscues.

The Bulldogs finished with 16 assists as senior guard Becci Houdek (Canton) had six of her own.  Both junior forward Lindsey Pettit (Portland) and freshman forward Nikki Arner (Ludington) had three apiece.  The Bulldogs also had two steals, both by Arner.

Findlay netted 14 assists and came up with six steals and five blocked shots in the victory.

Ferris State will travel to Urbana (Ohio) for a non-conference contest on Wednesday, Feb. 23, in Urbana, Ohio, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. (ET).  

The Bulldogs then host rival Grand Valley State in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Wink Arena.  Tipoff will follow the men's game at approximately 3 p.m. (ET) and FSU will honor its senior class of Adams, Houdek and center Andrea Clancy (Port Austin/North Huron).

Bulldog Bites: Ferris' bench outscored the Findlay reserves by a 15-5 count .... The lead changed hands three times and the score was also tied three times ..... Findlay posted a 34-26 edge in points scored inside the paint ..... The Bulldogs played 10 players in the contest while only seven Findlay players saw action.