BLOG 37: Ferris women look toward the future

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris women’s basketball player Caitlin Hutchison drives the baseline during a game earlier in the season at home against Ashland (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – An improbable first-round Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament victory over Northwood was particularly gratifying for the Ferris women’s team.

Although the Bulldogs’ season came to an end, with a 71-53 loss at Michigan Tech, the team was playing some of its best basketball at the end of the season after a rough stretch in the middle. The seniors (Teghan Thelen, Ashley Fleming, Jenna Guay and Caitlin Hutchison) elevated their play late in the season and became leaders through good times as the Bulldogs started to put the pieces together.

Entering next season, however, Ferris loses its four seniors and must rebuild its front line and replace one of the GLIAC’s top guards (Thelen). Guard play could be a strong point of the team next year and, from an experience standpoint, will have to be a strong point. Becci Houdek, Chelsea Simonetti and Kelsey DeNoyelles all garnered considerable playing time and will need to produce next season.

Up front, Andrea Clancy showed some flashes this season of what she can do and she will need to be a key presence inside next season for Ferris. The Bulldogs signed a pair of post players during the early period with Leah Kebler, a Midland native, and Katy Fox, a native of Indiana. The young players may be asked to come in and be ready to play early in their careers with a veteran in Clancy and experienced guards (a large group of guards).

Ferris won seven of its final nine games of the 2008-09 season and gained considerable confidence.

The Bulldogs ended their 2008-09 season with a record of 13-15 overall and 10-12 in the GLIAC.

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