Ferris State Women's Basketball Opens Campaign On A Winning Note

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball squad opened the 2014-15 campaign on a winning note as the Bulldogs registered a 71-66 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan on Friday (Nov. 21) night at the Pops Duncan Classic in Nashville, Tenn.

Ferris State claimed the victory in its season opener as FSU outscored the Panthers in both halves to pick up the five-point win. It came on day one of the two-day event hosted by Trevecca Nazarene University.

FSU and Kentucky Wesleyan, who are both regional opponents in the Midwest Region, battled nearly even most of the way in a game that saw the lead change hands six times. 

KWC jumped out to an early lead and led by as many as seven points in the opening half before the Bulldogs came back to record a 28-25 lead at the break.

Ferris State then increased its advantage to as many as 14 points in the second period with 13:44 to play, but KWC battled back and FSU had to hold on down the stretch to record the victory.

Junior guard Katie Mavis led the Bulldogs with a game-high 16 points in the contest on six-of-10 shooting. Junior center Christina Branch joined her in double-digits with 14 points in the outing.

Ferris State shot 42.6% (23-54) from the floor for the game, but hit on only three-of-17 (17.6%) three's. FSU did convert 22-of-33 (66.7%) free throws for the night.

Brittany Wells paced KWC with 13 points while both Haley Cook and Jordanne Gambill added 11 points each.

FSU limited the Panthers to only 33.9% shooting. Kentucky Wesleyan hit eight-of-20 (40%) three's and made 16-of-32 (50%) free throws in the setback.

Ferris State was slightly outrebounded 45-43 for the game and KWC also came up with 18 offensive boards to only nine for the Bulldogs. Senior Hannah Hoffman paced FSU with eight boards while Branch had seven and freshman Rachel McInerney added six.

The Bulldogs distributed 15 assists to 13 for the Panthers, which included three each from junior guard Dena Droste and senior forward Ashley Rando. FSU also finished with 11 steals to eight for KWC as Droste and sophomore guard Ally Christman each had three.

Finally, Ferris State tallied five blocks and Kentucky Wesleyan had only two for the game. Hoffman had a pair of blocks to earn game-high honors.

Overall, FSU outscored KWC 30-22 in the paint and 16-9 in points off turnovers as Ferris State forced 18 miscues to 17 of its own. However, the Panthers had 17 second-chance points to seven for Ferris State and received 25 points off its bench to 21 for the Bulldogs.

Ferris State will try to wrap up the Pops Duncan Classic unbeaten as FSU takes on host Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday (Nov. 22) with tipoff set for 3 p.m. (ET) in Nashville. FSU then visits Cedarville (Ohio) on Tuesday (Nov. 25) for another non-league regional game on the trip home.

The home opener for the Bulldogs will also serve as FSU's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opener on Sunday, Nov. 30, as FSU plays host to Tiffin starting at 1 p.m. (ET) inside Jim Wink Arena.