Ferris State Women's Basketball Captures First-Ever GLIAC Tourney Championship!

Postgame Interview 
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Postgame Highlights 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball team captured its first-ever Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament Championship on Sunday (March 6), knocking off nationally second-ranked archival Grand Valley State on the Lakers' home floor in Allendale in a memorable 59-51 title game victory.

With the win, FSU earned the GLIAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament and will now await the official national tournament selections slated to be unveiled late Sunday evening at 10 p.m. (ET) via a live selection show at NCAA.com.

In Sunday's third meeting between the two longtime West Michigan foes, the Bulldogs opened up a 13-6 edge at the end of the opening quarter in what proved to be a defensive slugfest early on. The Lakers responded in the second, outscoring FSU 15-7 to take a 21-20 lead into the locker room at halftime.

However, in the second half, the Bulldogs again surged in front and grabbed a seven-point lead heading into the fourth period. The lead grew to as many as 12 points with 7:36 remaining before the Lakers responded and cut the margin down inside of five points in the closing minutes. Ferris State made enough plays down the stretch to prevail, improving to 22-9 on the year and handing GVSU only its second defeat of the campaign against 27 wins.

Senior guard Adrienne Anderson led the Bulldogs with 18 points in the game while earning GLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player Award recognition. Sophomore Kadyn Blanchard also was named to the all-tournament team and finished with 17 points in the triumph.

Ferris State shot 36.5% from the floor and went only three-of-14 (21.4%) from long range and 18-of-25 (72%) at the free throw line.

The Bulldogs made their mark defensively, coming up with 12 steals, including seven from Anderson. FSU also posted a 45-33 rebounding edge over the Lakers and pulled down 12 offensive rebounds, leading to a 10-0 margin in second chance scoring.

Grand Valley State, which was led by Emily Spitzley's 18 points, finished shooting at a 33.9% clip and managed to make only two-of-17 (11.8%) long range tries. The Lakers converted nine-of-15 (60%) free throws.

FSU also owned a 10-4 advantage in fast break scoring.

Ferris State, which was making its fifth-straight and 19th overall GLIAC Tournament appearance, won the event for the first time in program history after finishing as the runner-up three different times.

The NCAA Division II Midwest Regional will take place March 11-14 at a campus site to be determined.

Stay tuned to FerrisStateBulldogs.com for additional postseason information as it becomes available.