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Big Fourth Quarter Run Lifts Ferris State To First Victory Of Season

Big Fourth Quarter Run Lifts Ferris State To First Victory Of Season

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball squad used a big fourth-quarter comeback to notch its first victory of the 2016-17 campaign as the Bulldogs pulled out a 62-58 win over the Findlay Oilers in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play on Sunday (Dec. 4) at Jim Wink Arena.

Ferris State trailed by as many as 18 points with only 1:10 left in the third period, but outscored the Oilers 26-7 over the final 10 minutes to earn the win. 

Redshirt freshman guard Riley Blair led the way for the Bulldogs with a team-high 16 points while sophomore guard Alexis Bush tallied a season-best 15 points and junior center Rachel McInerney notched a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds in the FSU win.

The Bulldogs shot 64.3% from the floor in the final quarter and hit on 40% of their shots for the day in beating Findlay in the first weekend of conference action. FSU connnected on nine-of-14 (64.3%) three's and made nine-of-15 (60%) free throws in the triumph.

Meanwhile, the Oilers shot only 31% overall and went two-of-14 (14.3%) from the floor in the final period as the Bulldogs turned up the defensive pressure. UF made six-of-24 (25%) long range tries and converted eight-of-13 (61.5%) free throws in the setback.

Haley Horstman paced Findlay with a game-high 19 points, but she was the lone Oiler player to reach double-digit scoring in the contest. Lynsey Englebrecht added nine points.

Ferris State claimed the win despite turning the ball over 20 times and being outscored 22-7 in points off turnovers for the game. UF finished with 11 turnovers.

While the Bulldogs totaled more turnovers, FSU also owned a 47-38 rebounding edge and came down with 12 offensive boards to outscore Findlay 15-13 in second chance production. Both teams netted 22 points inside the paint with FSU owning a 17-10 advantage on the break.

Ferris State finished with 16 asssits, including five from Bush and four by junior guard Leah Humes. The Bulldogs also had six blocks with McInerney garnering five on her own and came up with three steals. Findlay finished with 10 assists, nine steals and a single block.

With the win, Ferris State improved to 1-6 overall and 1-1 in the GLIAC while Findlay fell to 4-4 overall and 0-2 in conference action.

This week, the Bulldogs hit the road as they travel to face Walsh on Thursday (Dec. 8) for a 5:30 p.m. (ET) league tilt in Canton, Ohio. FSU then visits Hillsdale on Saturday (Dec. 10) for a 1 p.m. (ET) GLIAC game.