The Ferris State University women’s basketball team ended their season with a 65-62 victory over nationally-ranked Grand Valley State University.
“It was just a mindset today that we didn’t know what losing was,” senior forward Tiara Adams said. “There was no losing. We were going to win.”
FSU held a 36-31 halftime edge and led by as many as 11 points in the second period. However, with 1:35 left in the contest, GVSU managed to cut down the lead to a single point.
The Lakers had an opportunity to take the lead with 15 seconds to go but were denied by the tenacious Bulldog defense. Senior guard Becci Houdek partially blocked a GVSU jump shot, and Adams grabbed the rebound.
Adams then sank two free throws to seal the win.
“I thought we played with a lot of guts,” Ferris head coach Tracey Dorow said. “We got some key rebounds and some key stops. We executed what we needed to when we needed to.”
With the victory, FSU ended the year with a 13-13 overall record and an 8-11 GLIAC finish. The team did not advance to the postseason tournament.
Junior guard Tricia Principe led the Bulldogs with a game-high 25 points. She hit seven-of-11 from behind the arc. Adams added 16 points.
“It was just important for us to go out there and play our hearts out for each other,” said Adams. “To get a win over Grand Valley in our last game is really extra special.”
The Bulldogs trounced Urbana (Ohio) 85-58 on Feb. 23 to head into the Grand Valley game with some much needed confidence.
Prior to the game, Adams, Houdek, and senior center Andrea Clancy were honored for their accomplishments as part of Senior Day at Jim Wink Arena. Over the course of their careers, the trio has accumulated 1,954 points as well as 1,075 rebounds.
“The one thing I wanted was to see them all play their hearts out and play for the win,” Dorow said. “I’m just so proud of them and happy they get to finish their careers with a win.”
In her final collegiate game, Houdek tallied a game-high 10 assists to go with seven points and three steals.
Clancy missed six games this season following an injury suffered during the “131 Showdown.” She returned to the starting lineup Saturday and contributed three points, two assists, and a rebound in her last appearance for the Bulldogs.
During the postgame press conference, Dorow commended the seniors for their fierce competition, quality leadership, and selflessness as teammates in the face of “some tough times.”
“I’m so proud of the way they’ve pulled this team together over the last two years,” Dorow said. “I’d say they’ve laid a very strong foundation for our future.” n