The Bulldog women's basketball team, which has won four-straight games, is back home this week for two contests. Senior guard Erin Miller is pictured.

FSU Basketball At A Glance: The Ferris State women’s basketball team will host two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opponents this week in Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs take on Ashland Thursday (Jan. 25) at 6 p.m. (EST) before squaring off against Findlay Saturday (Jan. 27) in a 1 p.m. (EST) game. Both games will be the first contest of a women’s and men’s doubleheader.

The Records: Ferris State, which has won its last four contests to date, owns a current 12-5 overall record and is 6-3 heading into Thursday's meeting with Ashland. The Eagles enter the game with a 10-9 cumulative mark, but are only 4-6 in conference play. Findlay, which does not play Thursday evening, remains winless (0-10) in GLIAC play and is presently 4-16 overall this campaign.

Media Coverage: Both games will be carried live by Bulldog Radio, which can be heard locally on television Channel 21 both via on-campus cable and Charter Communications in Mecosta County. A live audio only webcast of both games will also be offered at www.bulldogradio.org. A live video and audio webcast will be available through B2 Networks for a charge of $6 on FSU’s Athletics Website at www.ferris.edu/sports. Live internet statistics will be offered on FSU’s Athletics Website at www.ferris.edu/sports. Ashland and Findlay also will have audio webcasts of their broadcasts at the following sites, respectively: www.ashland.edu/athletics and http://athletics.findlay.edu.

The Standings: Ferris enters Thursday’s play only a game behind both Grand Valley State and Lake Superior State in the GLIAC North Division standings. GVSU and LSSU are both 7-2 in league play with FSU at 6-3 in the conference. Gannon is on top of the South Division with an 8-1 league mark after defeated GVSU at home Monday evening.

Ticket Info: Tickets for the event will be available at the door. For more information or directions, please contact the FSU Athletics Ticket Office at (231) 591-2888 or go online at www.starticketsplus.net. Tickets are $7 (general admission) or $10 (reserved) for adults along with $5 for students (K-12) or faculty/staff. FSU students are admitted free of charge with identification. A family pass with two adult and two youth tickets is $15.

FSU Wins Two In Erie: Ferris State increased its winning streak to four games with a pair of league road wins this past weekend in Erie, Pa. FSU topped Mercyhurst 90-70 Thursday (Jan. 18) and then handed Gannon its first conference setback of the year Saturday (Jan. 20) by a score of 96-83 in Erie. Junior forward/center Rachel Folcik (Powers/Carney-Nadeau) recorded a personal career-high 37 points and 10 rebounds in FSU’s win at Mercyhurst. Senior guard Kristin Reinhart (East Lansing) led five players in double-figure scoring with a game-high 25 points and nine assists in the win over Gannon. The Bulldogs concluded a four-game conference road swing unbeaten by winning both games on the second trip. Previously, Ferris defeated both Northern Michigan (Jan. 11) and Michigan Tech (Jan. 13) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Last Season: Ferris State wrapped up its 2005-06 women's basketball season with an 18-10 overall record and made its seventh consecutive GLIAC Tournament appearance last campaign. FSU, which posted a third-place tying 12-6 mark in GLIAC North Division play a year ago, also registered its 10th consecutive season with 10 or more victories in 2005-06.

Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk: Ninth-year FSU head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk presently ranks as Ferris’ all-time winningest coach with a current 147-93 (.613) career record at Ferris State. A 1996 graduate of Western Michigan, she guided FSU to a 22-7 mark and the school's first NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Tourney appearance during the 1999-00 campaign. She spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Lake Michigan College (1994-97) and one season at Indianapolis (1997-98).

The Bulldog Tradition: The Ferris State women’s basketball program, which is midst its 33rd season of varsity competition, has compiled a 400-418 (.489) all-time mark. The Bulldogs won their only GLIAC crown, advanced to their first NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Tournament and recorded the nation’s highest grade point average in 1999-2000. FSU, which also claimed GLIAC Tournament runner-up honors in 1999-00, has posted 10 or more victories 10 consecutive seasons to date.

Looking Back At 2003-04: The Bulldogs compiled a 21-10 overall record in 2003-04 and reached the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament for only the second time in school history. FSU was second (14-4) in the GLIAC North Division and advanced to the GLIAC Tournament title game during the 2003-04 campaign. The Bulldogs also recorded the program’s second-ever 20-win campaign three seasons ago.

The Bulldog Roster: Ferris’ 2006-07 roster includes three seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen. Six of the 13 players are guards while the remaining seven are frontcourt players. All 13 players on the roster hail from Michigan.

Jim Wink Arena: Ferris has recorded a 57-24 (.704) overall record to date in games at Jim Wink Arena, including a 44-21 (.677) mark in league play. The 2,400-seat facility replaced the Old Jim Wink Arena, which was converted into the current Student Recreation Center after the 1997-98 campaign. FSU won its first 14 games in the facility.

On The Road: Ferris State is 184-133 (.580) overall since 1995-96 and sports a 107-89 (.546) record in road/neutral site contests during that span. The Bulldogs are 64-49 (.566) overall in road games under head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk, including a 47-31 (.603) record in GLIAC play.

The Team Captains: FSU senior guards Erin Miller (Niles) and Kristin Reinhart along with Rachel Folcik are serving as the Bulldogs’ team captains for the 2006-07 campaign. Miller picked up first team All-GLIAC and Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region Second Team accolades last campaign. Reinhart was named to the All-GLIAC North Division Second Team for the second consecutive season. Folcik started 26 contests.

Live Internet Stats: “Live Stats” of all 2006-07 Ferris State home games will be provided in progress via the internet. Visit the site at www.ferris.edu/sports and click the “Live Stats” icon to access.

B2 Broadband Webcasts: A live broadband video and audio webcast will be available via B2 Networks for FSU’s remaining home games this season. The cost is $6 per game and includes live video along with a radio audio feed. To access the service or obtain more info, please visit the FSU Athletics Website at www.ferris.edu/sports.

Listen To The Bulldogs: FSU women’s basketball (GLIAC games only) will be carried live this season through a partnership with Bulldog Radio, a registered student organization on the Ferris campus. The station can be heard locally on television Channel 21 both via on-campus cable and Charter Communications in Mecosta County. A live 24-hour webcast of the signal is also available at www.bulldogradio.org. Fans wishing to access the live internet broadcast of the GLIAC contests will also be able to visit the Bulldog Athletics Webcast icon at www.ferris.edu/sports.

On The Internet: Ferris State University Athletics’ official web site can be found at www.ferris.edu/sports. The site features information on all of FSU’s varsity athletics programs including rosters, statistics, yearbooks and more.

GLIAC Preseason Poll: Ferris State was picked to finish second in the 2006-07 GLIAC Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason North Division Poll released by the league office (Nov. 8). The Bulldogs totaled 29 points in the balloting, which was conducted by the conference's head coaches. A year ago, Ferris State took fourth place in the conference's preseason coaches poll with 23 points. Defending NCAA Division II National Champion Grand Valley State was selected as the North Division favorite as the Lakers recorded 36 points along with six first-place votes. Ashland claimed the top spot in the South Division with 24 points and four first-place votes. The league's 13 head coaches voted for the division in which they play.

Academic Success: The Bulldogs have ranked among the nation’s top academic programs seven consecutive seasons, according to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll list. Ferris compiled a 3.350 grade point average in 2005-06 to place 20th overall in Division II. FSU had the nation’s highest gpa in 1999-00 and placed second in 2002-03.

Folcik Claims GLIAC Award: The GLIAC named FSU’s Rachel Folcik as this week's GLIAC North Division Women's Basketball Player of the Week Award honoree in an announcement made Monday (Jan. 22). Folcik's recognition represents the second consecutive time and third in the last four weeks she's claimed the conference award. Folcik tallied 49 points and 20 rebounds in two games over the weekend, including a career-best 37 points at Mercyhurst. Folcik, who averaged 24.5 points and 10 rebounds on the two-game trip, has presently scored in double-figures 10 consecutive games to date and has notched a double-double effort in six of her last seven outings this year.

GLIAC Recognition: Rachel Folcik’s selection as GLIAC North Division Player of the Week this week marked the fifth time a Ferris player has earned the distinction this season as both senior guards Kristin Reinhart and Erin Miller were previous recipients on Nov. 20 and Nov. 27, respectively. FSU has presently had a player honored as the league's player of the week 18 times in the last five seasons, including the current year, to date.

Bulldog Bites: Ferris head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk needs three more wins to notch her 150th career coaching victory. She recorded her 100th all-time career victory against a GLIAC-member school with Thursday’s triumph at Mercyhurst ...... The Bulldogs have outrebounded their opponents in 11 of 17 games this season ....... FSU recorded the program’s 400th all-time victory with Saturday’s win at Gannon ...... This year marks the 11th consecutive year the Bulldogs have won 10 or more games ........ Junior guard/forward Sam Johns (Allendale) is only two points away from scoring her 500th career point ....... Ferris State was the nation’s 20th most-improved team at the Division II level in 2005-06. The Bulldogs had a seven-game turnaround from 11-17 overall in 2004-05 to 18-10 overall a year ago ..... Erin Miller moved into third place on FSU’s all-time scoring list last weekend and is only 25 points shy of posting her 1,500th career point ..... Seven of FSU’s remaining 10 regular-season tilts this campaign are at home, including five of the squad’s next six encounters ......... Rachel Folcik’s 37 points at Mercyhurst were the most recorded by a Bulldog player in a single game since former standout Jodi Raab notched a school-record 46 points against Wayne State in the 1992-93 season (2/6/93). Folcik is 19 points away from her 900th career point.

What’s On Tap: Following Saturday’s (Jan. 27) home outing against Findlay, the Bulldogs visit Saginaw Valley State Wednesday, Jan. 31, for a 6 p.m. (EST) GLIAC tilt in University Center, Mich. FSU then hosts Northwood Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1 p.m. (EST) in Jim Wink Arena.

Statistics Notes: The Bulldogs are currently ranked ninth nationally in field goal percentage (.463) along with 10th in scoring offense (78.6 ppg), 12th in three-point percentage (.379) and 14th in assists (17.9 apg) according to the latest (Jan. 22) NCAA-II National Statistics. FSU currently leads the GLIAC in scoring offense and assists while ranking second in free throw, three-point and field goal percentage for all games played overall .... Rachel Folcik is fourth overall in both scoring (17.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.6 rpg) within the GLIAC. She’s listed 19th nationally in field goal percentage (.551) along with 35th in scoring.

Ferris State vs. Ashland/Findlay Notebook:

Scouting Ashland: The Eagles enter the game with a 10-9 cumulative mark, but are only 4-6 in conference play. AU maintains a 9-8 series’ advantage heading into Thursday’s 18th meeting. Last year (1/26/06), Ashland topped FSU 92-59 at Ashland, Ohio. AU has won each of the last three encounters while FSU head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk presently holds a current 6-5 career coaching mark versus AU. The Eagles have split their last four outings this year, but captured a 76-61 league home win over Saginaw Valley State in their most recent performance last Saturday (Jan. 20). Talented senior guard Amber Rall is the squad’s leading scorer (22.4 ppg) to date. AU captured the GLIAC South Division title last year with a 21-11 overall mark and a 13-4 conference showing. Ashland, which is guided by 12th-year head coach Sue Ramsey, was picked to win the division again this year.

Scouting Findlay: Findlay, which does not play Thursday evening, remains winless (0-10) in GLIAC play and is presently 4-16 overall this campaign. The Bulldogs presently lead the all-time series with Findlay by a 5-4 count following last season’s (1/28/06) 73-48 road victory. FSU’s Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk has won five of the eight meetings against UF during her head coaching career. Ferris has emerged victorious four-straight times versus Findlay to date. Findlay, under first-year head coach Kate Cummings, has dropped 13 of its last 14 tilts this year, including a 77-76 conference home setback to Northwood in its most recent game last Saturday (Jan. 20) at Findlay, Ohio. The Oilers are paced by freshman guard Audra Mihalic’s team-high 10.1 points per game scoring average. UF was 12-15 overall in 2005-06 and finished fifth (5-12) in the GLIAC South Division. Findlay was chosen fourth in this year’s preseason division poll.