BLOG 14: Young DeNoyelles maturing fast for Bulldogs

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State University sophomore guard Kelsey DeNoyelles (21) goes up for a shot against fellow Bulldog Andrea Clancy (left) during a preseason scrimmage (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – As Kelsey DeNoyelles now knows, all freshmen experience their share of ups and downs of a first season of college basketball.

DeNoyelles, a Ferris State University first-year shooting guard, manufactured several plays that at times made her look like anything but a freshman Monday evening in Allendale against archrival Grand Valley State University as part of a 74-64 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win. DeNoyelles earned the starting nod at one of the forward/guard positions and totaled nine points on 4-of-10 shots she hit from the field. That total included 1-of-4 – a bomb beyond the top of the key – from the 3-point arc that was a big part of the win.

“It was really exciting for us to come away with that win and it was especially exciting because we all worked so hard and we all worked together and that was a big key to us getting the win,” said DeNoyelles, who plays with her older sister, Bulldog sophomore guard Stephanie DeNoyelles, and for her father, Mark DeNoyelles, who is a first-year assistant coach with the Bulldogs, who now are 2-2 overall and 1-0 in GLIAC play. “We’re definitely excited to come away with this win.”

The adjustment from prep basketball at Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart High School, where the 5-foot-9 DeNoyelles had an outstanding all-state hoop career, to college basketball has been an understandably challenging one. But, it’s a challenge the younger DeNoyelles has accepted – a mere four games into what is shaping up to be a strong college basketball career.

“The biggest difference for me, in adjusting to college basketball, is getting used to the quicker tempo and the speed of the game,” said DeNoyelles, who has not felt some of the nerves that freshmen can feel in their first season of college basketball action. “The tempo is definitely a lot faster than in high school.”

DeNoyelles is one of three Bulldog freshmen as she has been joined by two other 5-foot-9 first-year Ferris wing players: Lindsey Pettit and Tricia Principe. This season’s squad blends in the three freshmen and another newcomer, transfer Chelsea Simonetti, with a solid group of returning veterans as Ferris gears up for what it hopes is a successful run through the GLIAC.

“We just have to keep working hard and we have to stay confident in ourselves and confident in each other,” said DeNoyelles, who is on the road as she and her teammates will be in Ashland on Thursday night for a 5:30 p.m. league contest and will finish the Ohio road trip with a Saturday afternoon contest at Tiffin University with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m. “If we can continue to do that then we will have success.”

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com