FERRIS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SQUAD INKS TWO PREP RECRUITS

Becci Houdek & Katie Mount Sign During Fall Period

Bulldog Basketball Recruits

The Ferris State women's basketball program recently inked Becci Houdek (top) and Katie Mount (bottom), who will both enter the program as freshmen in the fall of 2007

The 5-9 Houdek averaged 15 points, 6.0 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.5 rebounds per game for Canton High School during the fall 2006 season. Mount, who's 5-6, totaled nearly 13 points, four rebounds and four assists per game in her prep playing career for Waterford Mott High School. Houdek attained 2006 Associated Press Class A Honorable Mention All-State accolades while Mount earned Detroit Free Press Class A Honorable Mention All-State kudos this fall.

The duo will help fill a void left in the Bulldogs’ backcourt after current senior guards Kristin Reinhart (East Lansing) and Erin Miller (Niles) complete their eligibility at the conclusion of the 2006-07 campaign.

“We expect both Becci and Katie to make a major impact in our program for the next four years,” said ninth-year FSU head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk. “They’re both first-class people and their personalities fit well with the individuals we already have in our program.”

Houdek led the Chiefs to a 19-3 overall record and a district final appearance this past season under head coach Brian Samulski. The squad also claimed the Western Lakes Athletic Conference Championship for the second time in three years. The Chiefs earned district titles in both 2003 and 2005.

A four-time all-conference honoree, Houdek averaged nine points, five rebounds and four assists per contest in her junior campaign (2005) as Canton compiled a 19-5 overall mark. She was both an honorable mention All-Metro and Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) All-State pick along with being chosen to both the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press' All-Metro West Third Teams. Houdek claimed All-West First Team honors in her senior season and was an honorable mention choice as a sophomore.

"Becci’s a fierce competitor who’s willing to lay everything on the line,” Bloodworth-Fisk said. “She’s always looking for ways to make her teammates better and takes pride in being a defensive stopper on the floor.

"She’ll put in as much time and energy as is necessary to make an immediate impact at FSU.”

In addition to being a four-year basketball letterwinner, Houdek also participated in soccer and was a 2006 Michigan Division I Honorable Mention All-State honoree. The daughter of Randy and Donna Houdek of Canton, Becci was also active in the National Honor Society and plans to major in either education or optometry at Ferris State.

Mount, who was coached by Andy Coleman, helped the Corsairs to a 13-10 overall record in 2006. She ranked among the top 50 basketball players in Oakland County and was a first team All-Area Lakes nominee for the Oakland Activities Association Division 2 school.

In her sophomore season (2004), Mount’s squad won a district crown for the first time in 25 years as she attained all-conference and All-Area Lakes Second Team recognition. She picked up all-area first team honors as a junior (2005) while being ranked among the Detroit Free Press’ top 100 players statewide.

"Katie’s a gym rat who's a true team player and really wants to see her teammates excel,” said Bloodworth-Fisk. “She’s a scorer and has tremendous ball-handling skills. She had to overcome an injury her senior year, but through the adversity has really come to appreciate the little things more.”

Besides basketball, Mount competed in softball and track at various points in her prep career. She also has participated in numerous community service activities and coached youth basketball. Mount's the daughter of Larry and Kathy Mount of Waterford and plans to major in a medical or health-related field at Ferris.

The Bulldog women’s basketball team, which is currently 10-5 overall, continues a four-game Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) road swing by visiting Mercyhurst Thursday, Jan. 18, for a 6 p.m. (EST) league encounter in MC's Athletics Center at Erie, Pa.