Quick Start Fuels Ferris State To Decisive GLIAC Home Victory

Postgame Interview 
Postgame Highlights 

Big Rapids, Mich. - A game-opening 14-0 run in the first 95 seconds sprang the Ferris State University women's basketball team to a 94-78 win over the Purdue Northwest Pride on Thursday (Jan. 17) at Jim Wink Arena in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.

Ferris State senior guard Lexi Bush lit the scoreboard up from beyond the arc, making three triples in a row and finishing 6-of-8 from deep with a team-best 22 points and nine assists. Junior forward Brayenne Benner had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and dominated defensively in the paint with eight blocked shots.

The Bulldogs surped ahead 14-0 and never trailed in the contest. Though the Pride closed the gaps at times, Ferris State built a 20-point lead by the end of the third quarter and stuck it out in the fourth for the win.

Ferris State senior forward Riley Blair also picked up 20 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double with six boards on the offensive and defensive glass each. Sophomore guard Adrienne Anderson also had 16 points to go with seven assists. 

The Bulldogs had four players, all starters, in double-figures, and got points from eight different scorers. Ferris State had 31 assists to 20 turnovers, while picking up 15 steals in the game, led by Benner's four. Ferris State had 33 points off turnovers to Purdue Northwest's 16.

For the contest, the Bulldogs shot 47.4 percent and held the Pride to 34.6 percent. Ferris State won the battle at the glass 51-45.

The Pride were led by the 22 points of Danielle Nennig while Tayler Vauters picked up 18 points and seven assists.

The Bulldogs moved to 8-7 overall and 5-4 in GLIAC play with the triumph. Meanwhile, the Pride fell to 0-9 in league play.

Ferris State returns to action for the second of a three-game homestand to take on the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers on Saturday (Jan. 19) at Wink Arena with tipoff slated for 1 p.m. (ET) in Big Rapids.