Bulldog Women Win First League Game Of The Season

Painesville, Ohio - The Ferris State University women's basketball team won its 2012-13 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opener with a 72-61 win over Lake Erie on the road Thursday (Nov. 29) night in Painesville, Ohio.

The win came in the first GLIAC game for the Bulldogs under first-year head coach Colleen Lamoreaux-Tate as FSU improved to 2-2 overall this campaign.  Lake Erie fell to 2-2 overall with the loss.

Ferris State, which was the preseason favorite to repeat as the GLIAC North Division Champion, bolted out to an impressive start as FSU led by as many as 24 points in the opening half.  

However, Lake Erie outscored FSU 40-30 in the second half and trimmed the margin down to as few as five points late in the game before the Bulldogs stepped up to pull out the victory.

Junior guard Sarah DeShone paced Ferris State with a game-high 26 points in the road win while junior forward Ashley Rando added 13 points.  DeShone had five assists, four rebounds and two steals while Rando added five assists, five steals and six boards.

Ferris State shot 55.8% for the night, including 57.1% in the opening half.  The Bulldogs hit six-of-17 (35.3%) three's to go with 18-of-26 (69.2%) free throws.

The Bulldogs held the Storm to only 32.8% shooting for the game, including just 25% in the first period while building a 42-21 halftime edge.  Lake Erie made nine-of-29 (31%) three's and 14-of-26 (53.8%) free throws.

The Storm were led by Jackie Murray's 15 points.  Ashar Harris added 14 points and 12 boards in a double-double effort with Shelby Carpenter adding 11 points.

FSU owned a 35-32 rebounding edge, which included eight from sophomore center Hannah Hoffman.  Senior guard Kylie Muntz contributed nine points in the win.

Ferris State totaled 24 turnovers, but forced 17 Storm miscues and the Bulldogs never trailed in the contest.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Saturday (Dec. 1) as FSU faces nationally top-ranked Ashland on the Eagles home floor at Kates Gymnasium starting at 3 p.m. (ET).

Saturday's game can be heard live on Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com.