BLOG 33: An opportunity to climb the ladder for Ferris

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State University’s Caitlin Hutchison (right) blocks a shot during Saturday’s game against Northern Michigan (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – This weekend’s two opponents inflicted losses on Ferris during a bit of a nightmarish stretch of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball games for the Bulldogs.

Ferris is hosting Saginaw Valley State on Thursday and welcomes Lake Superior State to Jim Wink Arena on Saturday. Both games are rematches. On Jan. 8, Ferris traveled to Sault Ste. Marie and fell 67-52 to the Lakers. Two days later (Jan. 10), FSU was in University Center where it took on the struggling Cardinals and suffered a painful 68-63 defeat to previously winless Saginaw Valley.

But, this week’s games are less about revenge and more about the GLIAC playoff picture – one Ferris is still in with four games to play in the regular season. Right now, FSU is in a three-way tie for seventh in the GLIAC (in terms of the race for seeding in the league tournament). Ferris is tied with Findlay and Northern Michigan at 7-11. Tiffin is one game behind at 6-12 and Lake Superior is one game ahead at 8-10. That means, for the most part, five teams are battling for three spots.

We have a lot of basketball left to be played and, fortunately for Ferris, the Bulldogs are playing arguably their best ball of the season as winners of three straight (victories over Findlay, No. 12 Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan). Now, however, the question is whether or not the Bulldogs can keep it going and finish this homestand off with two more victories.

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