October 30, 2025
Ferris State women’s basketball team facing University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for exhibition match
The Ferris State University women's basketball team will square off against the University of Michigan Wolverines in an exhibition game against one of the top NCAA Division I team in the nation.
The Bulldogs and Wolverines will hit the floor on Thursday, Oct. 30 at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Admission is free.
The game will be streamed live by Big Ten Plus and the local radio broadcast will be carried live by Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com with pregame coverage starting at 6:30 p.m.
Michigan is currently ranked 13th nationally in the Associated Press Division I preseason rankings under head coach Kim Barnes Arico along with 15th in the coaches' poll. The Wolverines went 23-11 overall last season, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Ferris State enters the 2025-26 campaign with lofty expectations following yet another NCAA Division II Tournament appearance a season ago.
Head Coach Kurt Westendorp led the Bulldogs to their third NCAA Tournament berth in the past four years in 2024-25, which also includes a historic run to the NCAA D2 National Semifinals in 2023-24.
The Bulldogs closed last year with a 21-12 overall record and made their eighth national tournament bid in school history. FSU also was the GLIAC Tournament runner-up.
The Bulldogs welcome back 11 squad members from last season, including a six-member senior class. The group of returnees includes standout guard Kadyn Blanchard, who missed most of last season due to injury, along with a pair of returning all-conference players in Mia Riley and Mya Hiram in addition to another all-conference defensive team honoree in Elle Irwin.
Ferris State’s other returning letter-winners include sophomores Alyssa Wirth and Grace Lyons, junior Claire Erickson along with seniors Ally Schultz and Emma Schierbeek, who were all valuable contributors a year ago. A pair of redshirt freshmen, Mia McLaughlin and Mara Mitchell, are back this campaign.
The Bulldogs brought in three talented freshmen from three different states who have the ability to make an impact, including guards Kenzie Garner and Charlotte Miller along with forward Melena Glysch.
Ferris State was picked to finish third in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll and is receiving votes in the 2025-26 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II Preseason Top 25 Rankings.
Ferris State opens the regular season Nov. 7-9 at the Division II Conference Commissioners Association Tip-Off Classic in Erie, Pennsylvania.