FSU Basketball At A Glance: The Ferris State women’s basketball team visits archrival and defending NCAA Division II National Champion Grand Valley State Thursday, Dec. 7, for a 6 p.m. (EST) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) encounter inside GVSU’s Fieldhouse Arena at Allendale, Mich. The contest will be the first game of a women’s and men’s doubleheader.

Senior forward Audrey Thwing and the Bulldogs visit defending NCAA-II National Champion Grand Valley State this Thursday evening

Media Coverage: The game will be carried live by Bulldog Radio, which can heard locally on television Channel 21 both via on-campus cable and Charter Communications in Mecosta County. Rob Bentley will handle the play-by-play duties for Thursday's coverage. A live audio webcast will also be provided at www.bulldogradio.org. In addition, a live audio webcast will be available through GVSU’s Athletics Website at www.gvsulakers.com. Live internet statistics via Gametracker will also be offered at www.gvsulakers.com.

About Ferris State: Ferris State University is a NCAA Division II school located in Big Rapids, Mich., with an enrollment of 12,578. The Bulldogs are a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Big Rapids is located in West Michigan approximately 60 miles north of Grand Rapids or 40 miles west of Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Ticket Info: Tickets for Thursday’s doubleheader can be obtained from the GVSU Athletics Ticket Office. Their phone number is (616) 331-3200. Tickets can also be ordered online at www.starticketsplus.net.

FSU Still Unbeaten In The GLIAC: Ferris State concluded last week unbeaten in GLIAC action with an 82-71 league home win over Saginaw Valley State Saturday (Dec. 2) inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich. The Cardinals took a three-point halftime advantage, but Ferris outscored SVSU 41-27 in the final frame. Senior guard Erin Miller (Niles) led Ferris State with 23 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward/center Rachel Folcik (Powers/Carney-Nadeau) added 19 points along with eight rebounds while senior guard Kristin Reinhart (East Lansing) netted 12 points in addition to six assists.

Ferris Wins League Opener: Ferris State jumped out to a big second-half lead and held off host Northwood for a 94-81 GLIAC road victory last Thursday (Nov. 30) evening in NU's Bennett Sports Center at Midland, Mich. Ferris took a 37-32 halftime edge in the conference opener for both teams and increased the lead to 26 points with 11:27 to play before the Timberwolves rallied to cut the lead down to only seven points with a minute to play. Ferris converted 28-of-42 (66.7%) free throws, including four in the final minute, to earn the victory in a contest featuring 61 total fouls. The Bulldogs had five players reach double-figure scoring, led by Erin Miller's team-high 15 points. Junior guard/forward Sam Johns (Allendale) added 14 points, sophomore guard Teghan Thelen (Pewamo/Westphalia) chipped in 12 points, Rachel Folcik scored 11 points and freshman center Andrea Clancy (Port Austin/North Huron) finished with 10 points.

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 140-89 (.611) 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 393-414 (.487) 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 placed second (14-4) in the GLIAC North Division and advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Championship 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 12 players on the roster hail from Michigan.

Jim Wink Arena: Ferris has recorded a 55-22 (.714) overall record to date in games at Jim Wink Arena, including a 44-19 (.698) 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 177-129 (.578) overall since 1995-96 and sports a 102-87 (.540) record in road/neutral site contests during that span. The Bulldogs are 60-47 (.561) overall in road games under head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk, including a 43-30 (.589) record in GLIAC play.

The Team Captains: FSU seniors Erin Miller and Kristin Reinhart along with Rachel Folcik have been named 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 last Wednesday (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, but were not allowed to vote for their own team.

The Next Game: Ferris State returns home to host Aquinas in non-conference action Saturday, Dec. 9, beginning at 1 p.m. (EST) inside Jim Wink Arena. After Saturday’s game, FSU will be idle until hosting Lake Superior State Monday, Dec. 18, in a 6 p.m. (EST) league home game.

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.

GLIAC Player Of The Week: Erin Miller was awarded last week's (Nov. 27) GLIAC North Division Women's Basketball Player of the Week honor. Her selection marked the second consecutive week a Ferris player had earned the distinction as Kristin Reinhart was chosen as this season's first recipient the week prior (Nov. 20). It also represented the fourth time in her career Miller has received the honor. FSU has had a player honored as the league's player of the week 15 times in the last five seasons, including the current year, to date.

New Club Member: FSU’s Kristin Reinhart became only the 13th player in school history to notch her 1,000th career point in last Thursday’s win at Northwood. Reinhart, who needed five points entering the game to join the exclusive club, tallied seven points and presently has 1,014 career points at Ferris State. She will be honored for the accomplishment prior to Saturday’s non-league home game versus Aquinas.

Number One On The List: Ferris head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk became the school’s all-time victory leader with two wins in the Aquinas College Classic (Nov. 18-19) to open the 2005-06 season in Grand Rapids, Mich. Bloodworth-Fisk, who also ranks as FSU’s all-time winningest coach, surpassed Pat Dolan’s (1977-89) previous school-record total of 118 wins at FSU. Both of FSU’s two all-time NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances have came under Bloodworth-Fisk. She was honored as the GLIAC’s 2003-04 Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year after guiding the Bulldogs to the program’s second-ever 20-win campaign.

GLIAC Opening Action: The Bulldogs claimed their sixth league-opening win in the last seven years at Northwood. FSU has posted a current 7-7 (.500) mark in its last 14 initial conference tilts. Ferris also is now 8-11 (.421) in its first GLIAC contest since the 1988-89 campaign. Additionally, FSU is now 12-7 (.632) over the last 18 seasons in its second conference outing of the year and has won six of its last nine such games following last Saturday’s win over SVSU.

Bulldog Bites: FSU needs seven wins to record the program’s 400th all-time victory ...... Erin Miller notched her 500th career made field goal at Northwood and scored her 1,400th career point against SVSU ...... Several Bulldog players posted personal career scoring highs at Northwood including sophomore forward Caitlin Hutchison (Riverview), sophomore forward Ashley Corbiere (Sault Ste. Marie/Sault Area) and Teghan Thelen with six, five and 12 points, respectively. Thelen also totaled a career-best eight assists ....... FSU recorded its 225th all-time GLIAC victory with the win over Northwood ......... Ferris head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk needs 10 more wins to notch her 150th career coaching victory ...... The Bulldogs have outrebounded their opponents in five of six games this season.

Time Change: The start time for Ferris’ non-league home game against St. Francis (Ind.) on Wednesday, Dec. 20, has been moved up one hour to 6 p.m. (EST) inside Wink Arena. It previously was slated to begin at 7 p.m. (EST).

Ferris State vs. Grand Valley State Notebook:

Scouting GVSU: Grand Valley State is currently 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC following last Saturday’s (Dec. 2) 65-54 league road win over Northwood in Midland, Mich. GVSU, which was picked to finish first in the 2006-07 GLIAC North Division Preseason Coaches Poll, is led in scoring by junior guard Crystal Zick (16.0 ppg). The Lakers, who are guided by fifth-year head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, were 33-3 overall during the 2005-06 campaign and placed first in the GLIAC North Division for the second consecutive year with a 17-1 mark. The Lakers, who are presently ranked fourth in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll, won the NCAA-II National Championship last year after advancing to the NCAA-II Elite Eight for the second year in a row. Grand Valley State’s lone loss to date this year was a 64-62 non-conference home setback (Nov. 26) to Bellarmine (Ky.).

Series Information: GVSU holds a 47-21 advantage heading into this Thursday's 69th encounter. FSU has won three of the last eight series’ contests, but dropped a 79-47 decision in the most recent meeting during the 2005-06 GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals (2/28/06) in Allendale, Mich. FSU also fell to the Lakers 75-55 last season (12/8/05) at Big Rapids and suffered a 69-53 setback to GVSU in the regular-season finale (2/25/06) between the two teams at Allendale. FSU head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk currently has a 9-9 career coaching record against the Lakers. Ferris holds a 7-27 all-time mark versus GVSU in Allendale.