Story, photo courtesy of NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO button to hear RRN's Casey Ford interview Coach Casey Thousand.
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. ---In a top-20 matchup, the No. 20 Northern Michigan Wildcats women's basketball team fell to the No. 16 Ferris State Bulldogs 80-68 on Saturday afternoon at Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids.
The Wildcats fell behind 24-12 through 10 minutes after Ferris drained four threes in the opening quarter. They'd hit five more in the second to lead 44-30 at halftime. The Wildcats outscored the Bulldogs 25-16 in the third to close the gap to 60-55. NMU then pulled within one possession early in the fourth, but Ferris answered with an 11-0 run and then would close the game with the final seven points to defeat the 'Cats.
Northern forced Ferris into 15 turnovers and held a 19-7 advantage in points off those turnovers, but the Bulldogs drained 14 threes and held a 46-36 edge on the glass.
A large part of NMU's trouble came from FSU's Mia Riley, who posted a triple-double with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kadyn Blanchard was also impressive with 23 points, nine rebounds, and four steals.
The Wildcats were led by Jacy Weisbrod with 16 points, while Sydney Whitehouse (13), Sarah Newcomer (11), and Alyssa Hill (11) all reached double figures. Hill led the way in the paint with eight rebounds and a pair of blocks.
NMU fell to 22-6 overall and 13-5 in conference play, while FSU improved to 22-4, 15-2.
Despite the loss, the Wildcats have secured a home GLIAC quarterfinal game, which will take place on Wednesday, March 4.
