Jan. 2, 2025

Ferris State women's basketball standout Kenzie Bowers graduates mid-season, but is far from done competing as a Bulldog

Ferris State University basketball standout Kenzie Bowers graduated cum laude from the College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration last month, crossing the stage in the same Jim Wink Arena where she practices and competes.  

Commencement happened to fall in the middle of the senior season of college basketball for Bowers, a Kent City native. Her Ferris State women's basketball team was ranked No. 19 in NCAA Division II nationally by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association last month.

Bowers graduated cum laude from Ferris State's College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, crossing the stage in the same Wink Arena where she practices and competes.  

"It was not supposed to be this way as far as me graduating in December instead of May," she said. "I knew I was finishing my major, and I had been planning on graduating and walking in the spring.  But my brother and his fiancé are getting married the day of the spring ceremony. For me, graduating in December worked out. It probably sounds odd, being mid-season for my graduation, but it has worked out."

That "worked out" part includes Bowers immediately starting her Master of Business Administration at Ferris State.  

"I had always planned on getting my MBA, so this works out great for me," she said, knowing the job hunt will intensify after her college basketball career ends and she works to complete her master's program. "However long it takes, I'm looking forward to finishing my MBA and getting started in the workforce when that time comes."

The intriguing potential career paths for Bowers includes the sports industry, but she keeps her options open. She is eager to keep her college basketball career going for as long as possible.

Bowers has traveled an unusual path to Ferris State that has been far longer than the 46 miles from her hometown to Big Rapids.

The 5-foot-9 guard made an initial stop as a Division I college basketball player at Illinois State University, where she played in 33 games during the 2021-22 season and finished with 89 points, 79 rebounds, 23 assists and 20 steals for the Redbirds.

She was part of the first ISU team to win the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title since 2008 and its sixth team to go to the NCAA Tournament.

"I started at Illinois State, but ultimately, I knew I wanted to be closer to home," said Bowers, who noted that she had previously played basketball against and with a current Bulldog teammate, starting center Mya Hiram. "We had a good relationship. I asked her how she liked it at Ferris. I liked what I was hearing. After my visit, I liked it here and knew this was where I wanted to be for basketball and school."

Bowers and Hiram became fast friends before Ferris State and eventually became teammates again after she transferred.

"We have such great friendships on this team, and I think that makes it easy for us to push each other on the court to be our best," she said. "Sometimes we have to get after each other, and we know that if we do, it's because we're there for each other, and we all want to be the best we can be for each other. No one takes it personally. We care about each other and about our team."

The Bulldogs are coming off their best season in program history, winning the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament championship and then advancing to the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Missouri, in March. Ferris State won its quarterfinal game and advanced to the national semifinals before their season ended after a 68-52 loss to Texas Woman's University, ending up 26-6 overall.

Bowers was a significant part of that effort, averaging 7.8 points and starting 31 of 32 games for the Bulldogs during the 2023-24 season.

This year's Bulldogs graduated two standouts from last season's squad in versatile forward Chloe Idoni and floor general point guard Mallory McCartney, now an assistant coach for Ferris State.

Ferris State is back in the national rankings, off to a 8-3 start, having already faced a challenging early-season schedule.

"We have reloaded with great players who have come into our program and our returning players who have worked hard and are even better coming back this season," said Bowers, who is averaging 9.9 points as a senior while shooting 49 percent from the floor, 43 percent from the three-point line and 78.6 percent at the free throw line. "We're all constantly in the gym putting in the work to be better."

Already this season, Bowers has experienced a personally special moment. She had another opportunity to face off against her younger sister, Lexie, a starting guard for Northwood University's team. The Bulldogs defeated the Timberwolves 87-63 on Nov. 20, in Big Rapids.

It was quite a night for the sisters, played in front of a large contingent of family and other supporters driving up from the Kent City area. Kenzie Bowers dropped in a game-high 21 points, while Lexie Bowers turned in a solid performance with nine points as she knocked down three triples.

Kenzie Bowers couldn't help smiling while talking about her sister.

"Oh my God. I'm so proud," she said. "Last year, as a freshman, Lexie was on a senior-heavy team and didn't see the court as much. She didn't get as many opportunities, but she is getting them now and she is taking full advantage of them. It's so cool to not only watch her on the court, but then to get to play against her. I don't think too many sisters get opportunities like that in college."

It's one of many great moments college basketball has produced for Kenzie Bowers.

Fresh off finishing her undergraduate degree, she knows basketball continues for her and her teammates.

"It's different graduating now, but I'm excited about our basketball season and our team," said Bowers, who shared a big hug with her good friend and teammate, Mya Hiram, on graduation day.

Ferris State returns to action in early 2025 with doubleheaders for the nationally ranked men's and women's basketball teams.

The Bulldogs host Saginaw Valley State on Thursday, Jan. 2, in Jim Wink Arena, with the women's game tipping off at 5:30 and the men starting at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldog basketball teams are back at home on Saturday, Jan. 4, against Wayne State University. The women play at 1 p.m. followed by the men at 3 p.m.