BLOG 24: Ferris has a lot to figure out with GVSU coming to town

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State women’s basketball player Kelsey DeNoyelles (right) fires a jumper during an early-season home game in Jim Wink Arena against Marygrove (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Success has been difficult to come by for the Ferris women’s basketball team in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action.

The Bulldogs won their first league game of the season defeating Grand Valley in Allendale, 74-64, on Dec. 1. Since then, however, Ferris has dropped five straight GLIAC games – the latest being a 68-63 decision to previously winless (in league play) Saginaw Valley on Saturday on the road in University Center. The loss drops Ferris to 3-7 overall and 1-5 in league play. Interestingly enough, Ferris’ biggest win this season, arguably, was its December victory over GVSU.

That is tough, but Ferris’ schedule becomes no easier as Big Monday brings the rival Lakers to Big Rapids for the rematch. Since that first game, on Dec. 1, GVSU has been playing strong basketball and has worked its way toward the top of the league standings. Ferris now is hopeful history will repeat itself in this rematch with the Lakers – one that you know GVSU has marked prominently on it schedule as an opportunity for revenge.

The Bulldogs have it marked too. The team is still searching for ways to put it all together to win some of these tough conference games. Ferris is still working to not only play with the necessary relentless effort it had at GVSU in the first game, but also to find ways to score easy baskets (in transition or from the low post), get to the free throw line and do a better job controlling the boards.

On Saturday at SVSU, one of the bright spots for the Bulldogs was the play of senior center Jenna Guay, who had one of her best games of the season with 17 points while sophomore forward Tiara Adams added 13 points. They were the only two Bulldogs to reach double digits in scoring during the game. Freshman guard Tricia Principe just missed a double-digit scoring total with nine points.

From a team standpoint, against the Cardinals, Ferris mustered just 35 percent field-goal shooting while Saginaw connected on 52 percent of its attempts from the floor.

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