FSU Basketball At A Glance: The Ferris State women’s basketball squad (6-3, 2-2 GLIAC) concludes its three-game homestand by hosting St. Francis (Ind.) (14-1, 4-0 MCC) Wednesday, Dec. 20, in FSU’s Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. (EST).

Freshman forward/center Andrea Clancy and the Ferris State Bulldogs wrap up a three-game homestand Wednesday versus St. Francis (Ind.)

Media Coverage: No radio coverage will be available for Wednesday’s non-league contest. However, a live video 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 from the game will also be available at www.ferris.edu/sports.

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 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 Drops Close Contest: A jumper by Mandi Johnson with only 1.7 seconds remaining lifted Lake Superior State to a thrilling 74-73 GLIAC road win over Ferris State Monday (Dec. 18) evening in FSU's Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich. The host Bulldogs took a one-point lead with one minute left on a basket from senior guard Erin Miller (Niles), who tallied a game-high 25 points. However, the Lakers got the ball back with only 15 seconds left following a Bulldog turnover and converted on their final possession. Ferris built a five-point halftime edge and led by as many as 12 points with 16:18 to go. The Lakers, though, forced 17 Bulldog turnovers and grabbed 15 offensive boards in the victory. In addition to Miller's 25 points, Ferris also received 20 points and 13 rebounds from junior forward/center Rachel Folcik (Powers/Carney-Nadeau). Senior forward Audrey Thwing (Davison) chipped in 11 points and nine boards.

FSU Tops Aquinas At Home: Ferris had three players reach double-figure scoring in a 86-76 non-conference win over Aquinas (Dec. 9) in its most recent game prior to Monday night inside Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs bolted out to a six-point halftime advantage and led by as many as 14 points with 7:54 to play before the Saints chipped into the FSU advantage. Aquinas was as close as six points with 25 seconds left, but Ferris junior guard/forward Sam Johns (Allendale) hit four consecutive free throws following a personal foul and ensuing technical foul to account for the final margin. Rachel Folcik led the Bulldogs with a personal career-high 28 points and added 10 rebounds in a double-double effort. Johns also had a personal-best effort with 25 points. Senior guard Kristin Reinhart (East Lansing) chipped in 16 points and eight assists.

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 141-91 (.608) 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 394-416 (.486) 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 56-23 (.709) overall record to date in games at Jim Wink Arena, including a 44-20 (.688) 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 178-131 (.576) overall since 1995-96 and sports a 102-88 (.537) record in road/neutral site contests during that span. The Bulldogs are 60-48 (.556) overall in road games under head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk, including a 43-31 (.581) record in GLIAC play.

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.

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 Recognition: Erin Miller was awarded the GLIAC North Division Women's Basketball Player of the Week honor on Nov. 27. 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.

Join The Club: FSU’s Kristin Reinhart was honored during Ferris’ non-league game against Aquinas (Dec. 9) for becoming only the 13th player in school history to notch her 1,000th career point. She accomplished the feat in FSU’s league opener at Northwood (Nov. 30) and presently has 1,042 career points at Ferris State.

Top Of 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.

Bulldog Bites: FSU needs only six wins to record the program’s 400th all-time victory ...... Ferris head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk needs nine more wins to notch her 150th all-time career coaching victory ...... The Bulldogs have outrebounded their opponents in six of nine games this season ....... Both Sam Johns and Rachel Folcik netted personal career-highs with 25 and 28 points, respectively, against Aquinas ...... Audrey Thwing is 29 points away from posting her 500th career point at FSU ...... FSU will play six of its next eight contests away from home this year.

Notes From Monday’s Game: Ferris’ last three meetings with Lake Superior State have all been decided in the final 10 seconds following Monday’s Laker triumph on a short jumper by Mandi Johnson with only 1.7 seconds left to play ........ The Bulldogs have dropped two of their last three outings to date after previously winning five of their initial six games this season ........ LSSU defeated Ferris for the 12th time in the last 13 series’ matchups Monday evening ....... Erin Miller moved into fourth-place on FSU’s career scoring chart versus Lake Superior State. The 5-7 Miller currently has scored 1,441 points in 96 career games (15.0 ppg) ....... Rachel Folcik notched her 700th career point against Lake Superior State.

The Team Captains: FSU seniors Erin Miller 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.

Over The Break: Following Wednesday’s outing versus St. Francis (Ind.), the Bulldogs will break for Christmas before returning to action at the Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Cougar Classic (Dec. 29-30) in Edwardsville, Ill. FSU takes on Southern Indiana in the opening game Friday, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m. (EST) before facing the host Cougars Saturday, Dec. 30, in a 4 p.m. (EST) tilt.

Ferris State vs. St. Francis (Ind.) Notebook:

Scouting The Cougars: The Cougars, who are a perennial NAIA national power, were 14-1 overall and had won 11-straight games this year entering Tuesday’s (Dec. 19) outing at St. Francis of Illinois (Ill.). The squad is presently 4-0 in Mid-Central Conference (MCC) action under sixth-year head coach Gary Andrews. Both senior center Chivon Keppeler and senior guard Nikki Lewis are averaging near 14 points per game. The Cougars were ranked fourth nationally in the most recent NAIA Division II National Poll. Their lone loss this year prior to Tuesday’s game was a 71-68 setback at Aquinas (Nov. 6). Last year, St. Francis advanced to the NAIA Final Four and was 28-8 overall while making the program’s ninth national berth in the last 11 seasons.

Series Information: The Bulldogs own a current 2-0 all-time series edge over the Cougars heading into tonight’s meeting. Both games have been played during the Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk head coaching era at Ferris State. FSU won the initial meeting 72-67 during the 2001-02 campaign (12/15) at Fort Wayne, Ind. Ferris then defeated St. Francis 75-49 the following year (11/23/02) in Big Rapids, Mich.