Two days after their 44-point win against Purdue Northwest, the Bulldogs women’s basketball team beat Wisconsin-Parkside 85-76 on Senior Day off of a 25-point performance from junior forward Mya Hiram.
Ferris (19-8, 13-5 in GLIAC) started the game against the Rangers (17-8, 12-6 in GLIAC) by intentionally winning the opening jump ball and passing it to senior guard DeShonna Day before traveling and checking out of the game due to injury.
Head Coach Kurt Westendorp talked about that decision.
“We were heartbroken that she couldn’t be out there participating as a full, healthy player,” Westendorp said. “We wanted to find a way on a senior day that she could have her moment, so she got to be out there on her home floor. Her family could see her go through the starting lineup one more time, and the fans could thank her for a great five years.
The Bulldogs went on a 12-4 run to start the game before ending the half down 37-35 in a back-and-forth first 20 minutes of play. The Rangers ended the half shooting better from the field with 45.5% (15-33) of their shots falling while Ferris was better from behind the three-point arc with 27.8% (5-18) of their threes falling.
The second half started the same way the first ended with a back-and-forth, defensive game with neither team gaining too much of a lead until midway through the fourth quarter when Ferris started to pull away. Ferris State forced 21 turnovers while only turning the ball over seven times themselves. The Bulldogs stole the ball from the Rangers 19 times in the game.
Westendorp highlighted the gritty game while giving praise to the Rangers.
“We knew it was gonna be a tough game,” Westendorp said. “It was a really close game when we played them the first time, so we were anticipating that again. So we did a really great job in the second half of scoring the ball, moving the ball, getting stops and rebounds because that’s a very good team. We’re battling in the standings with them, and it’s great to get a series sweep.”
The Bulldogs head to Wayne State on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. for their penultimate game of the regular season.