The No.19-ranked Ferris State women’s basketball team will start GLIAC play by traveling to Purdue Northwest to take on the Pride.
The Bulldogs (6-1, 0-0 in GLIAC) are on a five-game win streak headed into the contest, and are coming off a 79-68 win against the Hillsdale Chargers. In that win, senior guard Mia Riley led the team with 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block. Senior guard Kadyn Blanchard was second with 13 points and five assists. The Bulldogs shot 44.6% from the field and 25% from the three-point line. Ferris State also shot 73.7% from the free-throw line.
Blanchard loves how this team has been playing so far this season.
“The team is feeling great, and I certainly feel great about the team,” Blanchard said. “We have had to play against so many different types of opponents already this year, so we have great experience for anything that comes our way. Especially in the game versus Northwood, I think we showed how resilient of a team we are & how experienced. Being down seven at one point in the fourth quarter and then bringing it back to head to overtime showed our grit and togetherness out there. I’m very excited to keep playing with this group and growing from every experience together.”
In the seven games played this year, Ferris State is averaging 79.7 points, 39.9 rebounds and 19.1 assists per game. The Bulldogs are shooting 45.7% from the field and 32.2% from three-point range. Blanchard leads the team with 15.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Senior forward Mya Hiram is tied with Blanchard with 5.6 rebounds per game as well. Senior guard Elle Irwin leads the Bulldogs with 0.9 blocks per game. Blanchard and Riley co-lead the team with 1.9 steals per game.
Junior forward Claire Erickson knows these early games set the tone for the rest of the season.
“I think we have done a good job getting some tough regional wins on the road,” Erickson said. “These are the ones that matter when it gets to March, so it’s important that we get these wins early and get ready for GLIAC play coming up.”
Purdue Northwest (1-5, 0-0 in GLIAC) is on a five-game losing streak coming into the contest after winning its first game of the season, beating the Tiffin Dragons 70-65. Purdue Northwest played the same Hillsdale team the Bulldogs played, and lost 77-59. In that contest, sophomore guard Ciara Sims led the team with 16 points and four rebounds. Senior forward Alyssa Cole was right behind her with 12 points and nine rebounds in the game. Purdue Northwest is coming off an 85-75 loss against the University of Illinois-Springfield. In this game, Sims led the team with 20 points, three rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal.
The Pride averages 63.5 points, 33.2 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. Purdue Northwest shoots 38% from the field and 31% from three-point range.
Cole leads the Pride with 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Cole also leads the team in field goal percentage with 47% and in free throw percentage with 91% from the line. Sophomore guard Cameryn Phillips leads the team with 3.3 assists per game.
Freshman guard Charlotte Miller believes the regional games are a good indicator of how the conference games will go.
“It’s been a good start to our season with wins over some tough teams, and I think a final regional win is a great way to send us into conference play,” Miller said. “We’ve really come together as a team and always pick each other up when there’s adversity. I’m really proud of all the work we’ve put in so far, and I can’t wait to see all the continued success we’re going to have.”
The Ferris State Bulldogs will begin GLIAC play against the Pride on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. at John Friend Court in Hammond, Indiana.