WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ferris State 61, Wayne State 53

BIG RAPIDS - Not much this season went according to plan, but Ferris State University ended what it started on two positive notes.

The FSU women's basketball team got 16 points from Tricia Principe and 14 from Kelsey DeNoyelles en route to a 61-53 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season-ending victory over Wayne State University on Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 750 in Jim Wink Arena. Thanks to Saturday's win over the Warriors, Ferris closed its season by avenging two losses from earlier in the campaign as they also knocked off Northwood University on Thursday night in Wink.

"It is always nice to end the season on a win and it rarely happens," Ferris head coach Tracey Dorow said as her team closes out the 2009-10 season with a record of 8-19 overall and 7-15 in GLIAC action. "We lost a lot of close games and we need to push them harder so they are more prepared to pull out those games next year."

Complementing solid performances by Principe and DeNoyelles, Ferris had an 11-point, five-rebound and three-assist effort off the bench from a player who had battled injury throughout this season, Amy Joostberns.

"I was really proud of Amy," Dorow said. "She was a big factor against their zone. It's nice to have a veteran in there to make decisions. It really made a big difference with her experience in that position."

Joostberns, for her part, expressed how proud she was that the team has managed to stick together through thick and thin.

"We've done a great job of staying together," she said. "We've been riddled with injuries right from the beginning of the season. I don't know if we ever had everyone healthy."

Even at the end, the Bulldogs still had players benched for one reason or another. Issues aside, however, Ferris found a way to get the job done against Wayne State.

In addition to the double-digit scorers, Ferris had eight points apiece from Lindsey Pettit and Becci Houdek and four points from Tiara Adams.

Pettit led Ferris with seven rebounds while Adams had six and with five apiece were Houdek, Principe and Joostberns.

Tyler Hardy led Wayne State (8-19 overall, 6-16 GLIAC) with 14 points while Brooke Bowers added 11.

Defensively, Ferris held the Warriors to just 33.9 percent shooting (19-of-56) from the field and 21.1 from the 3-point arc (4-of-19).

Photo by Ed Hyde, FSU Photographic Services

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Wayne State 85, Ferris State 78

BIG RAPIDS - Playing for home-court advantage in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, and to get back in the picture for the NCAA Tournament, Ferris State University's men's basketball team needed to play like a desperate team.

The effort was not bad for Ferris, but Wayne State University looked like a team that simply wanted it more than the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 1,800 in Jim Wink Arena. Wayne's effort, including 26 second-chance points to just eight for the Bulldogs, led to an 85-78 GLIAC win in Big Rapids on a day when the Bulldogs honored seniors Josh Young, Jon Yeazel and Austin Randel for their dedication to Bulldog basketball.

Unfortunately, Ferris could not send its seniors away from Wink with a win (in what is almost certainly the last game of the season for Ferris in Big Rapids). Thus, Ferris will begin its GLIAC Tournament run on Tuesday (March 3) when it travels to O'Neill Arena in University Center to take on Saginaw Valley State University at 7:30 p.m.

"We didn't do a very good job defensively," Ferris head coach Bill Sall said."We had too many sloppy plays and didn't do a good enough job of what we were capable of doing."

The Bulldogs were led in scoring by Darien Gay, who came off the bench to post an 18-point effort that included 4-of-4 shooting from outside of the 3-point arc. Young finished with 16 points, Randel added 15, Justin Keenan scored 11 and Yeazel chipped in 10.

Keenan, the leading scorer in the GLIAC, only attempted one field goal in the second half of the game. He was 4-of-9 shooting in the first half and was just 0-for-1 in the final 20 minutes. Ferris did not (and/or could not) get the big man enough touches in the paint.

Wayne had 14 offensive rebounds that led to those second-chance points. Jerry Oden led the Warriors with 22 points, Bryan Wright added 19 and Bryan Smothers finished with 17.

The Bulldogs (15-12 overall, 13-9 GLIAC) shoot poorly at the free throw line as they connected on just 5-of-15 at the charity stripe.

Ferris has put itself in quite a hole now. From here on out, Ferris' season will be taken one game at a time.

Truth be told, the next loss could mean the end of the road for this team.

Photo by Ed Hyde, FSU Photographic Services

HOCKEY: Ferris Fans, Student-Athletes Share Unique Bond Through Ritual

Ferris State University hockey players and students come face to face before and after each period as one of the unique aspects of Ewigleben Ice Arena. (Photo/Calvin Carter)

BIG RAPIDS - Increasingly, barriers that divide athletes and fans have created a disconnect that has strained the relationship of the two groups around a common interest: the sporting events they all love.

While arenas and stadiums oftentimes go to great lengths to draw a separation between fans and athletes, Ferris State University's Ewigleben Ice Arena is proud to be an exception to the rule. At Ferris, the interaction between those who fill the "Dawg Pound" and the Bulldog hockey student-athletes is both encouraged and celebrated. In fact, the relationship between the students and the hockey student-athletes is nothing less than a mutual love affair.

In the student section, the Ferris pep band (which from time to time includes Ferris President David Eisler and his trusty clarinet) begins the steady drum beat as students gather together to form a human tunnel in the pathway from the Ferris locker room to the playing surface of Ewigleben Ice Arena, one of the toughest barns for opponents in all of college hockey. Those fanatics, the ones who rush in like crazy to get their spots the minute the ice arena opens for games, are about as fired up as the players.

"I believe we have always had a unique relationship here at Ferris between our students and our student-athletes," Ferris head coach Bob Daniels said as his team enters this weekend's competition (a home-and-home series against Western Michigan University that begins tonight in Big Rapids and ends Saturday in Kalamazoo) with a record of 19-11-4 overall and tied for second place in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings. "There is a mutual respect between our students and our student-athletes and it's great to see how they come together and support each other and feed off of each other."

Ewigleben Ice Arena is not merely tough because it's small and it feels like the fans are right on top of you with their aggressive and relentless chants and their banging of the boards. When the building is packed to its limit (2,493), it is akin to (for opponents) playing major college hockey in an area that feels like an average-sized basement jammed with 2,400 people who are far from your best friends and don't exactly have a lot of love for you.

"The Dawg Pound is a great lift for us every time we hit the ice," said former three-time Ferris hockey captain Adam Welch, who recently concluded his Bulldog playing career. "It is the best student section in all of college hockey."

The "Dawg Pound" has a lot of love for the Bulldog players and coaches. In almost ritual fashion, every time the players and coaches take the ice they are greeted with a human tunnel of fans filled with unconditional love for Ferris hockey.

"The atmosphere in which the student section has developed over time gives our players a distinct advantage, so much as it seems like we have a seventh man on the ice," said Drew Famulak, Ferris associate head coach. "We, as a coaching staff, believe it has become the toughest facility for opposing teams to play in."

In 1999, the University added a state-of-the-art locker room to the west side of Ewigleben Ice Arena. As a result of the new location of the locker room, the Bulldogs began a different route to the ice surface - a route that takes the players and coaches right past the area that is home to the student section and the band.

"I think it is a unique quirk about our rink that at the beginning and end of each period our players walk through our students," said Daniels, who confessed he could not think of any other Division I college hockey arena with a setup that brings the players and fans together. "It's truly one of the different experiences for our great fans and our players that is not something you see in other hockey arenas where the players are a little more removed from the fans.

"It's something special that we have right here at Ferris."

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ferris 93, Northwood 74

BIG RAPIDS - Knowing that Northwood University had three guys capable of lighting up the scoreboard, Ferris State University figured it probably needed to stop two of the three.

The Bulldogs did just that, defensively. Dorian Pierce averages more than than 18 points for the Timberwolves while Lionel Sullivan averages about 18. Both of those players were held in check, for the most part, by Ferris' defense. As a result, the Bulldogs rolled to a 93-74 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over Northwood on Thursday evening in Jim Wink Arena.

"We can be a good offensive team when we move the ball and it was good to see us make some shots," said Ferris head coach Bill Sall. "It was good to see us get a lead and keep it."

Defense, however, was far from the only part of the equation. Offensively, Justin Keenan scored 30 points and grabbed four rebounds while Austin Randel established a Ferris career-best total of 24 points (he hit 5-of-7 from outside the 3-point arc). Aiding those two monster performances, Ferris got 10 points from Josh Young, eight from Jon Yeazel (pictured) and seven from Darien Gay.

The Bulldogs (15-11 overall, 13-8 in the GLIAC) hit 53.7 percent of their shots from the floor while Northwood (12-13 overall, 9-12 in the GLIAC) was good for 50.9 percent.

The Timberwolves hurt themselves badly by turning the basketball over 24 times while Ferris only turned it over eight times.

Leading Northwood, with 22 points, was Chris Johnson. Sullivan added 14 points off the bench, but struggled through much of the game before putting some points on the scoreboard late in the contest. Pierce was held to just six points.

The Bulldogs close out the regular season at home on Saturday afternoon when they host Wayne State University at 3 p.m. in Jim Wink Arena.

Photo by Ed Hyde, FSU Photographic Services

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ferris 59, Northwood 58

BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University wanted to make sure history did not repeat itself as it tried to hang on for dear life against Northwood University.

Earlier this season, in Midland, the Bulldogs built a nice lead against the Timberwolves, but could not hang on for the victory. History did not repeat itself on Thursday, however, as Ferris got a late defensive stop and hung on for a 59-58 victory over Northwood as it now heads into its last game of the season, Saturday, against Wayne State University.

"Our defense and our rebounding were a lot better in the second half. We obviously shot the ball better in the first half and we didn't get impatient in the second half and didn't turn the ball over," Ferris head coach Tracey Dorow said.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 7-19 overall and 6-15 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to emerge victorious in a game for pride against Northwood (12-13 overall and 8-13 in the GLIAC).

Scoring wise, Ferris was led by Kelsey DeNoyelles who totaled 17 points as she hit 7-of-13 shots from the floor and 3-of-6 from outside the 3-point arc. Becci Houdek, starting at the point, added 12 points and nine assists while Tiara Adams (pictured in white) finished with 10 points and four rebounds. Lindsey Pettit scored seven points, Kylie Muntz added six, Katy Fox scored three and with two apiece were Tricia Principe and Amy Joostberns.

"I was looking more for my shots today and I had been a little hesitant," DeNoyelles said. "But, (Thursday) I was definitely looking for my shot."

The Bulldogs won the game in spite of shooting only 39 percent from the floor (Northwood hit 42 percent of its attempts from the field). Ferris connected on 24-of-61 shots while the Timberwolves were good on just 21-of-50.

So, while the Bulldogs shot a lower percentage from the field, getting more attempts offset the lower conversion rate.

Ferris led by as many as 10 points, at 5:45 of the second half, before Northwood started to rally and fight its way back into the game. Northwood trimmed the Bulldogs' lead down to one point and forced Ferris to get a defensive stop on the Timberwolves' final possession.

"The plan for the last play was just to stop them," Dorow grinned. "We wanted to make sure we didn't give 11 (Jodi Ostergren) or 21 (Pam Wilson) a good look. Becci had her hand right there in her face and obviously we had to get the board. If we give them a put back at the buzzer we lose."

Houdek agreed, "We got the stop when we needed to get the stop and that was all that really mattered and we got the win."

Northwood, as expected, was led by Ostergren and Wilson with 16 points apiece. Wilson, in the first meeting of the season against the Bulldogs, was virtually unstoppable as she posted 28 points.

Ferris returns to the hardwood on Saturday when it hosts Wayne State at 1 p.m. in Jim Wink Arena.

Photo by Ed Hyde, FSU Photographic Services

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ferris State Goes For Sweep Of Northwood

BIG RAPIDS - Not everything has gone according to plan, every step of the way, but Ferris State University's men's basketball team still has an opportunity to achieve a lot of its goals before everything is done.

The Bulldog men's basketball squad starts the last week of the regular season on Thursday (Feb. 25) at 8 p.m. as it hosts Northwood University. Ferris, currently three games out of first place following two losses last weekend to Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State, still has plenty to play for this weekend against the Timberwolves and Wayne State.

First up, however, is a Northwood team that is coming to Big Rapids owners of a record of 12-12 overall this season and 9-11 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Ferris head coach Bill Sall and his squad enter the week with a record of 14-11 overall and 12-8 in the GLIAC. The Bulldogs are still playing for seeding and for a potential at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament (a bid that was put into some jeopardy after two losses last week to the Cardinals and the Lakers).

Northwood is under the leadership of head coach Bob Taylor, now in his 13th season with the Timberwolves, who have dropped two of their last three games. Taylor's squad has some guys who can light up the scoreboard in guard Dorian Pierce and forward Lionel Sullivan. Pierce is averaging 18.3 points while Sullivan is averaging 17.9. When these guys are on their game, Northwood becomes a tough team to handle because of its offensive potential.

Justin Keenan is leading Ferris averaging 20.3 points (best in the GLIAC) and 6.8 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Austin Randel is averaging 11 points, Darien Gay is putting up 9.8 per game and Jon Yeazel is good for 9.2 points a contest this season.

In the earlier meeting of the season, Jan. 23 in Midland, the Bulldogs got off to a good start, withstood a few surges by Northwood and claimed an 86-73 win on the Timberwolves' home court in Midland. In that game, Gay led Ferris with 19 points.

Grand Valley and Findlay are both 15-5 at the top of the North Division and South Division, respectively. Ferris, Saginaw Valley and Hillsdale are 12-8 while Lake Superior is 10-9. Ferris is tied for third overall as the top four teams host the quarterfinals round games on Tuesday, March 2.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ferris Will Seek Revenge Against Northwood

BIG RAPIDS - The season has been challenging from start to finish for Ferris State University, but expect the Bulldogs to come out playing hard this weekend in their final two games of the 2009-10 season.

The Ferris women's basketball begins its final week of the regular season with a home game on Thursday (Feb. 25) at 6 p.m. against Northwood University - in a battle of teams who had their seasons crushed by injuries.

The Timberwolves are 12-12 overall this season and 8-12 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference even though they have lost seven players to season-ending injuries (a variety of injuries). The Bulldogs (senior-free as projected starting center Andrea Clancy was injured four minutes into the exhibition game against Oakland University and will return via a medical redshirt), coached by Tracey Dorow, are 6-19 overall and 5-15 in the GLIAC standings as the season moves to a close.

But, while Northwood has lost a lot of players to injuries, one player who continues to excel is forward Pam Wilson, who is one of the better all-around players in the conference averaging 17 points for head coach Jeff Curtis' squad.

The Timberwolves have dropped four of their last six, but that stretch does include a bright spot: a 60-57 win over Ashland last Saturday (Feb. 20) on their home court in Midland.

Tricia Principe and Tiara Adams continue to lead the team in scoring. Principe is averaging 11.8 points while Adams is averaging 10.2. Kelsey DeNoyelles is averaging 8.9 points while Becci Houdek is averaging 8.6.

In the earlier meeting of the season, Jan. 23 in Midland, Ferris played great most of the contest (led by as many as 14 points) before the Timberwolves rallied late for a 68-62 win. Wilson scored 28 for Northwood in the win.

HOCKEY: Ferris holds steady in Inside College Hockey Power Rankings

BIG RAPIDS - As Ferris State University took one out of two games in a much-hyped Central Collegiate Hockey Association series last weekend, against nationally-ranked Michigan State University, the Bulldogs of head coach Bob Daniels remained 14th nationally in the Inside College Hockey Power Rankings (Feb. 21).

The Bulldogs defeated topped the Spartans 4-1 in Big Rapids, last Friday night in Ewigleben Ice Arena, but were stopped 3-2 on Saturday at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing.

With a win in two tries last weekend, Ferris is 19-11-4 overall (13-9-4 in the CCHA) as it enters the final weekend of the regular season with a home-and-home series against U.S. 131 rival Western Michigan University.

The Bulldogs welcome Western to Big Rapids on Friday at 7:05 p.m. and then travels to Kalamazoo to face the Broncos at 7:35 p.m. in Lawson Ice Arena.

Inside College Hockey:
http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/5Polls/0910/polls_0822.htm

HOCKEY: Bulldogs hold steady at 14th in USCHO poll

BIG RAPIDS - As Ferris State University split a pair of hockey games over the weekend, against nationally-ranked Michigan State University, the Bulldogs held steady at 14th in the nation (371 points) according to the Feb. 22 U.S. College Hockey Online poll.

The Bulldogs of head coach Bob Daniels defeated the Spartans 4-1 in Big Rapids, last Friday in Ewigleben Ice Arena, but was knocked off in a 3-2 thriller on Saturday at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing.

With the split, Ferris now is 19-11-4 overall on the season as it prepares to enter its final two games of the regular season (a home-and-home series against U.S. 131 rival Western Michigan University).

The Bulldogs host Western on Friday at 7:05 p.m. and travel to Kalamazoo to face the Broncos at 7:35 p.m. in Lawson Ice Arena.

USCHO:
http://www.uscho.com/rankings/?data=uscho1m&week=poll

Best Of The Decade (2000): Softball

BIG RAPIDS - Under the direction of head coach Keri Becker, Ferris State University's softball program has ranked among the best at the NCAA Division II level.

As most coaches will say, however, it's impossible to have great teams without great players doing great things. Becker's early teams, those that competed during the late 1990s, achieved great things on the diamond. A few of those standout student-athletes continued to produce through the 2000 campaign.

It's difficult (if not impossible) to think of some of those great teams and not remember players like Anne Bentley, Nadine Crowl, Jody Gifford and others who took Ferris to the brink of an NCAA Division II National Championship in 1998, back to the national championships in 1999 and to a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title in 2000 on its home diamond.

So, Ferris clearly has had no shortage of great players over the years.

One of the challenges of choosing this team is weighing the strong contributions of players who played most of their career in the 1990s, but competed one season in 2000. On one side, Ferris has had great competitors like Bentley and Crowl who were dominant players in the late 1990s and took the program to unprecedented heights on the regional and national scenes. On the other side, Ferris has had players such as Emily McLean (pictured) and Sarah Mueller, who enjoyed outstanding success, also was a part of a team that advanced to the national championship and played her entire career during the decade.

With that being written, my choice for captain of the Best of the Decade Softball Team is Emily McLean, who has a softball resume that doesn't have to play second fiddle to anyone else's credentials.

Here is the Best of the Decade (2000) Top Six:

Anne Bentley: One of the outstanding utility players to suit up in the crimson and gold for Ferris State University on the softball diamond. The Wyoming, Mich. native played all over the infield and was dependable at any position (whether it was shortstop, second base or first base). If needed, she probably could have pitched, too. Her hitting was solid throughout her career. More than anything, however, it might have been her will to win and drive to be successful that put her ahead of so many of her competitors on the diamond (or on the tennis court where she was one of the best to play for the Bulldogs at her spot in the tennis lineup). Back on the diamond, however, she capped a strong softball career by being named a third-team All-American in 2000. Anne batted .302 with five home runs and 25 runs batted in during the 2000 campaign.

Nadine Crowl: A workhorse of a player who not only got it done with a powerful bat, but also made it happen in the circle where the lefty was a dominant pitcher (particularly during that storybook 1998 season. Down to the end of her career, during the 2000 season that witnessed Ferris win the GLIAC Softball Tournament championship on their home field in Big Rapids, the Coleman native was a key component of that success. She wasn't the most vocal player who has ever suited up for the Bulldogs, but she led by example (a very good example). Throughout her career, she was the model of consistency and efficiency in her production for head Coach Becker. During her final season, in 2000, Nadine was named team MVP as she batted .286 40 hits an six multi-hit games. She tied for the team's lead with 29 RBI and scored 26 runs with 10 doubles, two home runs, a .400 slugging percentage and a .355 on-base percentage

Emily McLean (Captain): She capped her career by being named to the 2006 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region First Team. This was one year after being named the 2005 GLIAC Player of the Year. Emily was a third baseman who was converted into an outfielder to fill a need for the Bulldogs. In a lot of ways, she could have played in a number of different spots on the diamond and achieved a level of success defensively that would also include success at the plate as well - where she swings a strong bat. The native of Rogers City was first-team All-GLIAC two seasons in a row (2005-06). As a senior, Emily led her Bulldogs with a batting average of .399, a career-best 71 hits and team-best totals in hits, RBI (42), home runs (seven). That is just a small part of the resume for one of the best ever to play for the Bulldogs. She had a career batting average of .355 (that is second all time only to Gifford).

Katie Kraai: A player people once doubted could succeed as a college softball player ended her Ferris career as an all-time great (both as a leader and as a player). Katie came to Ferris and turned into the rock over at third base who got the job done at the hot corner with her glove. As a senior, Kraai was a 2008 All-GLIAC first-team pick as she batted a career single-season best .297 and posted 51 hits, 17 doubles, three home runs and 32 runs batted in. Beyond her play on the field, and her tremendous leadership qualities, Katie was a dedicated student who put the student in student-athlete. The Zeeland native was a three-time GLIAC All-Academic Team choice. By the time the final chapter was written on her career, Katie had become the career Ferris leader in doubles (49) and ranked well in several other categories among the all-time greats at FSU. She willed herself and her teammates to great things in softball.

Sarah Mueller: Near the end of the decade, Sarah proved to be the top player for the Bulldogs as an outstanding utility player who was a top-notch pitcher, a great hitter and a strong presence in the outfield. A native of Santa Clarita, Calif., her dedication to softball and her teammates was evidence as she fought through some painful physical issues near the end of her career to come back and try and will her team to success at the close of the 2009 campaign in the NCAA regional tournament. She could hit for power, she could hit for average, she could pitch, she could run ... she could flat out do it all. Multiple times she was named an All-GLIAC First-Team player for the Bulldogs as a the result of her all-around play for Ferris. She had a career batting average of .317, a career slugging percentage of .486, 108 runs scored, 40 doubles, nine triples and 106 hits. As a sophomore, she was named to the 2007 Daktronics, Inc. All-America Third Team.

Nicki Merchant: A highly-recruited player, the Wayland native became a strong infielder for the Bulldogs and an excellent hitter. She was a first-team All-GLIAC pick her senior season after being named a second-team all-conference performer as a junior. As a senior, she led Ferris in hits with a career-best total of 53. She also was tops on the team in runs scored (23), doubles (12), home runs (three) and RBI (25). She batted .340 as a senior. By the time the final chapter was written on great career in crimson and gold, Nicki ranked second among Ferris' career leaders in home runs (14). Coming from an amazing family of outstanding student-athletes, Nicki was fourth in doubles (36), sixth in hits (175), seventh in RBIs (83) and tied for 13th in batting average (.293). To this day, she continues to rank well among the best to ever play the game for Ferris in softball.

Honorable Mention

Jaymee Kent: Came to the Bulldogs from Grand Rapids Community College and immediate paid dividends as a great hitter and solid fielder...
Allison McKibbin: Very good catcher who didn't play long for the Bulldogs, but played well while she was in crimson and gold. Also a very good hitter...
Dana (Peuler) Conklin: Came out of the Grand Rapids area with good credentials and ended her career as a solid player, a great leader and a person of unmatched character...

Amanda Opbroek: Another player of second-to-none character, Opbroek was a strong pitcher and a solid hitter who was a quiet leader during her era...

Melissa Worsley: A strong catcher who helped solidify the Bulldogs' batter combination during her time and also a solid hitter and tremendous leader...

Navreet Gill: One of the better utility players ever to perform for the Bulldogs on the diamond. She was a strong hitter and remarkably consistent...

Laura Crower: A very solid first baseman who was a good hitter. A great student and leader who set a good example...

Amanda Jager: An excellent hitter who could hit for power, had good discipline at the plate and brought great personality to the team...

Krystle Bailey: A rock of stability as a catcher who was an iron woman with the work she did behind the plate game in and game out...

Holly Bruntjens: Another rock of consistency in the pitcher's circle who didn't overpower, but knew how to move the ball. Emerged as a strong hitter and solid outfielder, too...
Lindsay Riskovitch: A quietly efficient middle infielder who has offensive numbers that might surprise a lot of people.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ferris Recruit DeShone Battles Knee Injury

BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University women's basketball signee Sarah Deshone, a guard Bulldogs head coach Tracey Dorow is high on, has joined the list of FSU recruits to recently suffer a knee injury.

DeShone, an Elkhart, Ind. native who in November eclipsed the 1,000-point total for her prep career, tore both the ACL and MCL in an injury she suffered this season playing the game she and so many players her age have come to know and love.

Elkhart Truth, Feb. 5: BREMEN -- Sarah DeShone has never cried more in her life.

But we all should cut her some slack -- she's had good reason this week. Jimtown's girls basketball standout hit the floor Tuesday night at Westview and couldn't get back up -- both her ACL and MCL torn.

A loud yell bounced off the walls of the gym moments after her fall to the hardwood while making a cut she's probably made thousands of times in her career.

"I felt it tear ... then I thought, 'Why?"' DeShone said Thursday before her Jimmie teammates went out and pounded Bremen 48-27. "I hoped after that first night. I was crying the whole time, but thinking that I've got to have hope."

The story is a nice read about DeShone and what she is going through now having suffered this serious knee injury. Check it out, here.

Everyone is pulling for our future Bulldog to get healthy as quickly as possible.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Ferris Recruit Rando Bounces Back From Injury In Jackson

BIG RAPIDS - Tracey Dorow is confident that one of her prized recruits for Ferris State University's 2010-11 recruiting class will return better than ever.

As a result of that confidence, Dorow saw little risk in committing to Jackson guard Ashley Rando, a prep standout from Nothwest High School, during the early-signing period. Near the end of 2009, Rando tore her ACL. That seemed destined to wipe out her senior season

Ashley Rando

. That seemed to be the bad news. Even at that time, however, the good news was Rando did enough before that injury to catch the eye of Dorow and earn herself an opportunity to take her game to the college level at Ferris.

One thing the Bulldogs have learned is that Ashley Rando, beyond being a quality basketball player, is a fighter.

The 5-foot-8 Rando (who has played inside and outside during her prep career), however, bounced back and recently returned to the court in the twilight of her senior season.

Feb. 19, Jackson Citizen-Patriot: Northwest's Ashley Rando, who suffered a torn ACL in October and underwent surgery, returned to play her first game on senior night and scored a 3-point basket. She is the Mounties' only senior.

It's great news that Rando was able to return to the hardwood to play with her Northwest teammates at the end of her high school career.

No one thinks of senior night as a night of firsts but, in one way, it was a first for the season for Rando as she was able to join with her teammates on the hardwood.

HOCKEY: No. 12 Michigan State 3, No. 14 Ferris State 2

EAST LANSING - Bob Daniels and his 14th-ranked Ferris State hockey team felt the need for greed after Friday's 4-1 victory over No. 12 Michigan State, in Big Rapids, before a capacity crowd in Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Saturday's rematch might have been subtitled: desperate vs. greedy.

Playing before a capacity crowd of 6,610 fans in Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, it was the host Spartans who bounced back for a 3-2 win over the Bulldogs to split their critical Central Collegiate Hockey Association series. The two teams entered the weekend tied for second place in the CCHA standings. After Friday's victory, Ferris took the lead on Michigan State in league play. But, after Saturday, to a large extent the two rivals were back to where they started the weekend - tied for second.

The Bulldogs and Spartans both have 46 points in the standings (two points ahead of Nebraska-Omaha and four points ahead of Alaska and Northern Michigan).

"It was a good hockey game," Ferris head coach Bob Daniels said after his team's defeat on Saturday evening to fall to 19-11-4 overall and 13-9-4-3 in the CCHA. "Disappointed, obviously, with the end result, but not disappointed with the way the kids played and how hard they worked. (We all) came out of the weekend thinking the two teams were evenly matched.

"Winning Friday and then coming in on Saturday and try to be greedy," he added. "We were hoping to win them both, but it was not to be."

On Friday, the first period was a defensive stalemate with few shots on goal and thus limited scoring opportunities. Saturday was a different story. The Spartans drew first blood on the scoreboard, Saturday, as Andrew Rowe scored off assists from Matt Crandell and Brock Shelgren at 4:51 of the opening period to get the house rocking in East Lansing.

Ferris, however, responded later in the opening period as Justin Menke scored courtesy of assists from Chad Billins and Zach Redmond on the power play at 6:31.

The stalemate continued in the second period as MSU again struck first on the scoreboard as Jay Sprague scored his first of the season assisted by Brett Perlini and Dean Chelios at 10:25.

The Bulldogs responded as Billins scored his third goal of the season (a short-handed score) with an assist going to Mike Embach at 16:49.

That left the game tied at 2-2 going into the third period of a game of enormous importance in the conference and nation for both teams.

A Travis Ouellette tripping penalty, in the third period, opened the door for Michigan State to strike back in the final stanza. Dustin Gazley lit the lamp (assisted by Daultan Leveille and Rowe) at 12:31 for what turned out to be the game winner as the Spartans (18-11-5) were able to hold the visiting Bulldogs scoreless for the balance of the third period.

"Friday, we carried the play greater through two periods and then we got sloppy," Daniels said. "Saturday, there were times where they carried the play and times we carried the play."

Pat Nagle saved 23 of 26 shots he faced, for Ferris, while the Spartans benefited from a 25-save effort from Drew Palmisano.

Ferris closes the regular season with a home and home series against U.S. 131 rival Western Michigan University. The Bulldogs and Broncos are in Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and then at Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo on Saturday with the puck set to drop at 7:35 p.m.

HOCKEY: No. 14 Ferris 4, No. 12 Michigan State 1

BIG RAPIDS - More than a few people wondered how Ferris State would handle the pressure of playing in this big-time series with Michigan State.

Aaron Lewicki, one of the FSU veterans, liked what he saw from his fellow Bulldogs prior to a series that pits 14th-ranked Ferris against the 12th-ranked Spartans. In a highly-anticipated two-game set earlier this season, against top-ranked Miami University (losses of 4-0 and 5-4 on Jan. 15-16), Ferris did not seem to handle the pressure quite as well as the visiting RedHawks left Big Rapids with a pair of important wins.

Friday night, Ferris looked like students who had learned their lesson well. The Bulldogs scored three times in the second and once in the third to defeat the Spartans, 4-1.

"I thought we played well for two periods and played kind of loose and then I thought Pat Nagle made some great saves for us in the third period that kept them from coming back and tying us," Ferris head coach Bob Daniels said after his team improved to 19-10-4 overall and 13-8-4 in Central Collegiate Hockey Association play. "It's a tough place to play at Munn (Ice Arena). It's a big rink with a big crowd. It was important for us to come out and play well to get a win here before going down there."

Friday, in front of a standing-room-only crowd in Ewigleben Ice Arena, Ferris showed how much it had learned from that Miami disappointment.

"The Miami series was kind of an eye opener," said Lewicki, a senior center who had a goal and an assist in the win against MSU. "We hadn't been in that kind of a situation the last couple of years as far as battling at the top of the standings. We learned a lot from Miami and (Friday) we used what we learned from the last time we played Miami."

After a scoreless first period, a true defensive struggle, the floodgates opened for the Bulldogs with three goals on 17 shots in the second. Lewicki got FSU's goal party started with his 10th goal of the season off assists from Justin Menke and Blair Riley at 6:51. At 11:41, Ferris went up 2-0 as Mike Fillinger found the back of the net with the puck (assisted by Todd Pococke and Derek Graham). Ferris capped the period in style as Kyle Bonis scored (assisted by Graham and Pococke) at 15:48.

"We had to keep our cool and just play our game," Lewicki said when asked about battling through the scoreless first period before putting it all together in the second.

At 2:47 of the third period, however, Michigan State finally got on the scoreboard as Derek Grant snapped a shot past Nagle (assisted by Torey Krug and Corey Tropp) on the power play.

"I thought Michigan State carried the play once they scored to make it 3-1," Daniels said. "That gave them a lot of energy and I thought that was where Pat Nagle stood tall for us. There was a couple minute period where he made some big saves. That gave us a chance to get our feet back under us."

Grant's goal was a pivotal moment. Had the Spartans scored again, to make it 3-2, it could have spelled trouble for the Bulldogs.

Tougher from lessons learned in the Miami series, the Bulldogs answered Grant's goal with a score from Menke at 13:45 on the power play. Assists were credited to Lewicki and Embach. In his post-game press conference, Daniels talked about how huge the goal scored by Menke was to take a little wind out of the Spartans' sails. Michigan State, after Grant's goal, had begun to carry the play on the ice.

Nagle saved 22 of 23 Michigan State shots while the Bulldogs scored four times on 29 shots against Spartans netminder Drew Palmisano.

With the win, Ferris snaps a four-game winless streak against the Spartans as the two teams hit the road for East Lansing to finish the series Saturday at 5:05 p.m. in Munn Ice Arena.

HOCKEY: Comley Talks About Tough Nature Of Playing In Ferris' Ewigleben Ice Arena

BIG RAPIDS - Michigan State University hockey head coach Rick Comley knows how tough it is to play Ferris State University in Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Over the years, when people talking about the toughest Central Collegiate Hockey Association venues to play in, three come to mind: the University of Michigan's Yost Ice Arena, Western Michigan University's Lawson Ice Arena and Ferris State University's Ewigleben Ice Arena. For the most part, people tend to pick Yost as the toughest, and it is tough. Michigan packs a lot of fans in Yost and it does get loud in there. But, Lawson is smaller and the fans are rowdier and Ewigleben is even smaller and the fans are loud and in the game from start to finish.

Comley, in an article published by the State News, had this to say about playing in Big Rapids at Ewigleben Ice Arena:

Feb. 18, the State News: I think it’s the toughest building there is. Everybody thinks (Yost Ice Arena) is the toughest, but I think Big Rapids is. That student crowd is over the edge and they are very much into the game.

Comley might be taking a little swipe at the Ferris students there, but, whatever.

When Ferris is playing well, and when Michigan or Michigan State is in the house, the place is electrifying for hockey.

SOFTBALL: Ferris To Face Some Stiff Competition In Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout

BIG RAPIDS - Over the years, Ferris State University softball coach Keri Becker has never been one to duck some tough competition for her Bulldogs.

Last year, the Bulldogs finished 35-10 overall and ranked 22nd in the nation after bowing out in the NCAA Division II Tournament. In spite of graduating five seniors, Becker is hopeful the returning players have gained some confidence after a strong 2009 campaign and the new players she has recruited will continue to perform confidently.

All hands will need to be on deck and playing well from the start as Ferris opens its 2010 campaign against some VERY strong competition in the Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout in Decatur, Ala. (Feb. 19-21) this weekend.

"It will be nice to get about six games under our belt for sure," said Becker, who is in her 13th season at Ferris with a record of 383-237-1. "The competition will be stiff. In that respect, it will let us know right where we stand. We play the No. 1 team in the country and some other top teams in the country. We will find out in a hurry where we stand."

Indeed, the lineup is challenging from start to finish as Ferris gets this early-season competition in the month of February.

Here is a rundown of the competition for the Bulldogs in this weekend's tournament:

University of Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout
(Feb. 19-21) - Decatur, Alabama

Friday (Feb. 19)
vs. North Alabama @ 12 p.m. (CST) - Field 5
vs. Augusta State (Ga.) @ 2 p.m. (CST) - Field 1

Saturday (Feb. 20)
vs. #5 Indianapolis @ 10 a.m. (CST) - Field 4
vs. #1 Alabama-Huntsville @ 12 p.m. (CST) - Field 4

Sunday (Feb. 21)
vs. West Georgia @ 9 a.m. (CST) - Field 2
vs. Southern Indiana @ 11 a.m. (CST) - Field 2

In many ways, this prestigious tournament is like who's who of Division II college softball with top-ranked Alabama-Huntsville and fifth-ranked Indianapolis (the two opponents of Ferris on Saturday).

BASKETBALL: Ferris Men's And Women's Squads Lose Tough Ones To Saginaw Valley

Both Ferris State University basketball teams were in desperate need of wins against Saginaw Valley State University on Thursday evening (Feb. 18).

The women's basketball team of head coach Tracey Dorow needed a win to strengthen its bid to earn a spot in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. It;s not over, but a win over the Cardinals would have helped the cause. The men's team of head coach Bill Sall really needed it to strengthen its case for a first-round GLIAC Tournament home game and to solidify its NCAA Tournament at-large bid credentials.

In the men's game, Ferris dropped a 68-66 decision to Saginaw Valley while the women were bested 66-50 by the Cardinals.

In the men's contest, Justin Keenan led Ferris with 28 points and 12 rebounds while Austin Randel added 14 points in the loss. The Bulldogs had their chances, down the stretch, but Saginaw Valley came up with a few more plays and held on for a victory that ties them with the Bulldogs in the league standings and damages Ferris in more ways than one. The Bulldogs fall to 14-10 overall and 12-7 in the GLIAC. SVSU improves to 15-9 overall and 12-7 in the league standings.

In the women's contest, Saginaw Valley got off to a decent start, opened up large leads and pulled away late for a 16-point win over Ferris. The Bulldogs were led by Tricia Principe, who had 16 points as she continues to perform well for Ferris. Kelsey DeNoyelles and Lindsey Pettit each scored nine points for Dorow's squad. With the loss, Ferris drops to 6-18 overall and 5-14 in the GLIAC. The Bulldogs are chasing Northwood for the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament, but trails the Timberwolves now by two full games with only three left.

GENERAL ATHLETICS: Ferris Athletics Department prepares for 'Operation Giveaway'

BIG RAPIDS - "Operation Giveaway" is more than a promotion designed to drive fans to Jim Wink Arena for Ferris State University's home regular-season finales for the women's and men's basketball teams.

Associate Athletics Director Jon Coles is hopeful that "Operation Giveaway" will bring smiles to the faces of a lot of fans who visit Wink for the basketball games on Feb. 27. On that date, the Bulldogs are hosting Wayne State University. The women's game starts at 1 p.m. while the men's game tips off at 3 p.m. Of course, Ferris students are admitted to Bulldog basketball games for free. For this event, children (who will get a kick out of playing in the inflatable bounce house and maybe participating in the ever-popular game of Chase the Bulldogs) get free admissions with one paid adult.

"Operation Giveaway is our way of saying thanks to both the student body and community," Coles said. "We've had tremendous crowds and support throughout the year and this is an opportunity for us to express our appreciation."

Obviously, the primary goal is to fill the arena with fans hungry for good Division II basketball. Another major goal is to give something back to the fans that have supported the Ferris student-athletes and their programs.

Competition is not just for the basketball teams. Free transportation will be provided (charter bus) from the FSU residence halls to Wink. And, yes, there is something in it for students who represent their residence halls. A new ping pong table will be awarded to the hall with the highest overall attendance at the event.

Here are items listed as part of "Operation Giveaway" on Feb. 27:

• Ten $500 Scholarships (chances double by attending both games)
• First 500 fans get a rally towel
• Free transportation for students to and from Wink Arena
• New ping pong table to residence hall with best attendance
• "Four Free Wings" Coupons to everyone from Buffalo Wild Wings
• Twenty $10 gift cards compliments of Buffalo Wild Wings
• $300 worth of Meijer Gift Cards
• Tanning packages

Visit the "Operation Giveaway" Web site, set up by the Ferris Athletics Communications office, for the full list of giveaways as part of the event, here.

HOCKEY: Following The Ups And Downs Of PairWise And Other Polls

BIG RAPIDS - Ah yes, the emotional highs and lows of being locked into the weekly unveiling of various national polls (including the widely-respected PairWise Rankings of U.S. College Hockey Online).

Panic stricken, I know that some fans became a touch nervous as Ferris State University slipped to 19th in the PairWise Rankings only to move back up (this week) into 16th. These are the highs and lows of a long season of college hockey. Ferris began the season red hot, but in February has struggled at times against some good competition and to overcome even a few injury issues (particularly to key guys like captain Cody Chupp, a star forward, and Scott Wietecha, a top-notch defenseman) that mostly were nonexistent during the early portion of the schedule.

It probably does make sense to keep a close eye or two on the rankings at this time of the year. Ferris State University, has just its series this weekend against Michigan State University and one next weekend against Western Michigan University.

First and foremost, Ferris is fighting to secure one of the top four spots to earn a first-round bye for the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament. Secondly, the Bulldogs want to remain highly-ranked to potentially qualify to be awarded an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament (should they not win the CCHA Tournament) for the first time since 2002-03.

If the nationally-ranked Bulldogs can (at the very least) split these last four games, they should find themselves in a good position relative to PairWise and finishing in the top four of the CCHA at the close of the regular season.