2003-04 FERRIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE RELEASED

Schedule Includes Nine Home Outings & Trip To Arkansas

“Our schedule this season will be extremely challenging,” said sixth-year head coach Tracey Fisk, who presently ranks as the school’s all-time winningest coach with an 85-51 (.625) mark. “We have many road games, especially early in the season, but it will provide us with both an opportunity to earn extra points towards the national rankings and the preparation needed for a difficult conference race.”

Ferris State begins its 30th anniversary season Saturday, Nov. 15, versus Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)-member Lewis (Ill.) in Romeoville, Ill. FSU will then take part in both the Quincy(Ill.)/Subway Tipoff Tourney (Nov. 21-22) and the Ashland (Ohio) FirstMerit Classic (Nov. 29-30). The Bulldogs are slated to face Missouri Western State in Friday’s (Nov. 21) opening round of the Quincy/Subway Tipoff Tournament at 6 p.m. (EST) while host Quincy battles Rockhurst (Mo.) in the 8:15 p.m. (EST) nightcap. The tournament’s consolation and championship games are scheduled for Saturday (Nov. 22) at 3 p.m. (EST) and 5:15 p.m. (EST), respectively.

In the Ashland FirstMerit Classic, Ferris will square off against Slippery Rock (Pa.) Saturday, Nov. 29, with tipoff set for 1 p.m. (EST). FSU will then meet Kentucky Wesleyan Sunday, Nov. 30, in a 1 p.m. (EST) encounter.

Ferris State opens league play with back-to-back road evening contests versus Findlay (Dec. 4) and Ashland (Dec. 6). FSU then begins the home portion of its schedule as the Bulldogs entertain Lake Superior State (Dec. 11) at Big Rapids (Mich.) High School. The contest, which represents Ferris’ only first-semester home game, was moved from FSU’s Jim Wink Arena due to conflicts with the school’s annual winter graduation ceremonies.

The Bulldogs will compete in the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge (Dec. 19-20) at Midland, Mich., where they will battle Indianapolis (Dec. 19) and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (Dec. 20). FSU concludes the non-conference portion of its schedule with a trip to Arkansas to face both Henderson State (Jan. 2) and Central Arkansas (Jan. 3).

“If we play well, having so many road games early in the season will be beneficial,” Fisk said. “Our schedule will provide us with an opportunity to develop confidence and could be a boost when we’re able to play several games at home later in the season.”

The Bulldogs’ initial home contest at Jim Wink Arena is against league rival Grand Valley State (Jan. 10). The remaining home schedule includes contests against Wayne State (Jan. 17), Gannon (Jan. 22), Mercyhurst (Jan. 24), Northwood (Jan. 29), Saginaw Valley State (Feb. 12), Northern Michigan (Feb. 26) and the regular-season finale versus Michigan Tech (Feb. 28).

Following its two GLIAC-opening away games, Ferris takes to the road for league matchups versus Saginaw Valley State (Dec. 13), Hillsdale (Jan. 15) and Michigan Tech (Feb. 5). FSU will also visit Northern Michigan (Feb. 8), Lake Superior State (Feb. 14), Grand Valley State (Feb. 16) and Northwood (Feb. 21).

“The GLIAC continues to get tougher in terms of the competition,” said Fisk. “Many recent recruits have decided to play college basketball in our league when they could have played in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) or elsewhere, which makes the conference much stronger.”

Ferris State, which finished the 2002-03 campaign with a 15-11 overall record and a 10-8 conference mark, reached the GLIAC Tournament for the fourth consecutive year and posted its seventh straight 10-win campaign. The Bulldogs return eight letterwinners and five starters from last season.