FSU Basketball At A Glance: The Ferris State women’s basketball team hosts Saginaw Valley State in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action Saturday, Dec. 2. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m. (EST) inside Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich. The contest will be the first game of a women’s and men’s league doubleheader.

The Ferris State women's basketball team is back at home this Saturday night against Saginaw Valley State

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. Jeremy Dreslinski of Bulldog Radio will handle the play-by-play duties for Saturday’s coverage. A live audio webcast will also be provided at www.bulldogradio.org. In addition, 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 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. 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.

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 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 senior guard Erin Miller's (Niles) team-high 15 points. Junior guard/forward Sam Johns (Allendale) added 14 points, sophomore guard Teghan Thelen (Pewamo/Westphalia) chipped in 12 points, junior forward/center Rachel Folcik (Powers/Carney-Nadeau) scored 11 points and freshman center Andrea Clancy (Port Austin/North Huron) finished with 10 points.

Ferris Upsets Drury: Ferris State built a 24-point lead and held on for a 91-87 non-league triumph over nationally-ranked Drury (Mo.) last Saturday (Nov. 25) evening in FSU's Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs led 50-26 near the end of the first half and held a 22-point halftime advantage before the Panthers responded by outscoring FSU 59-41 in the final frame. Drury managed to cut the Bulldog lead back down to three points on two different occasions in the final 4:17 of the contest, but could get no closer as Ferris finished by connecting on 23-of-26 (88.5%) free throws in the outing. DU was ranked 10th nationally in the 2006-07 USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll. Erin Miller led the way with a game-high 30 points. Senior forward Audrey Thwing (Davison) chipped in 21 points and a game-best 13 boards.

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 139-89 (.610) 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 392-414 (.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 54-22 (.710) overall record to date in games at Jim Wink Arena, including a 43-19 (.694) 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 176-129 (.577) 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.

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 league home games only 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 visits defending NCAA Division II National Champion and archrival Grand Valley State Thursday, Dec. 7, for a 6 p.m. (EST) league showdown in GVSU’s Fieldhouse Arena at Allendale, Mich.

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 has been awarded this week's (Nov. 27) GLIAC North Division Women's Basketball Player of the Week honor for her play in two contests last week. Miller led Ferris State with 51 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds and three steals in two outings versus Lewis (Ill.) and Drury last week. This week's selection marks the second consecutive week a Ferris player has earned the distinction as senior guard Kristin Reinhart (East Lansing) was chosen as this season's first recipient the week prior (Nov. 20). It also represents 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 Thursday’s win at Northwood. Reinhart, who needed five points entering the game to join the exclusive club, tallied seven points and presently has 1,002 career points at Ferris State. She will be honored for the accomplishment prior to next Saturday’s (Dec. 9) non-league home game versus Aquinas, which tips off at 1 p.m. (EST) inside Wink Arena.

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 Thursday at Northwood. FSU has posted only 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 11-7 (.611) over the last 18 seasons in its second conference outing of the year and has won five of its last eight such games. Ferris lost its second league game last year (12/3) to Saginaw Valley State by a score of 76-67 at University Center, Mich.

Bulldog Bites: FSU needs eight wins to record the program’s 400th all-time victory ...... Audrey Thwing’s five steals versus Drury marked a career-best .... Erin Miller notched her 500th career made field goal at Northwood ...... 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 Thursday evening.

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.

Ferris State vs. Saginaw Valley State Notebook:

Scouting SVSU: The Cardinals, who are currently 0-3 overall this season, suffered a pair of losses to open the year at the Missouri-Rolla Tip-off Classic (Nov. 17-18) in Rolla, Mo. SVSU fell to Henderson State (Ark.) 68-59 in its season opener before dropping a 60-55 decision to the host school. Saginaw Valley State then dropped a 65-55 conference-opening decision Thursday (Nov. 30) evening at Grand Valley State. Junior guard Brittany Burns has averaged 14 points per game over the three contests. Last year, the Cardinals compiled a 8-19 record and finished tied for fifth place (5-13) in GLIAC North Division play. SVSU, which is coached by third-year head coach Vonnie Killmer, placed sixth in the 2006-07 GLIAC Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason North Division Poll.

Series Information: The Cardinals maintain a 39-25 advantage heading into Saturday’s 65th series meeting. However, FSU has won 14 of the last 15 meetings and defeated the Cardinals 76-73 in the most recent game (2/2/06) at Big Rapids, Mich. The two teams split a pair of meetings last campaign as SVSU pulled out a 76-67 triumph in the initial contest (12/3/05) at University Center, Mich. FSU head coach Tracey Bloodworth-Fisk presently has a 14-2 career coaching mark versus Saginaw Valley State.