Women's Basketball Defeats First-Place Ferris State 70-46

The Northwood University women's basketball team had one of its best performances of the season Thursday night (January 17), earning a 70-46 win over GLIAC North Division leader Ferris State.

Northwood improves to 8-9 overall, 6-5 in the GLIAC. Ferris State falls to 9-5 overall, 8-3 in the GLIAC.

The Timberwolves scored 11 of the first 13 points of the game to take the early advantage.  FSU fought back to take the lead at 28-27, but Northwood scored the final 10 points of the half to earn a 37-28 lead at the break.  NU finished the opening half 14-30 from the floor (46.7 percent) and 4-10 from 3-point range (40.0 percent).  FSU went 11-36 from the floor (30.6 percent) and 2-10 from beyond the arc (20.0 percent).

Northwood dominated the second half, holding FSU to 18.9 percent from the floor (7-37) and 10.0 percent from 3-point range (1-10).  Ferris State got no closer than 11 points in the final 20 minutes.

For the game, Northwood finished at 44.8 percent (26-58) overall and 8-22 from 3-point range (36.4 percent).  The Bulldogs finished at 24.7 percent (18-73) overall and 15.0 percent (3-20) from 3-point range.  FSU finished with 27 offensive rebounds to 17 for Northwood, but both teams finished with 18 second chance points.  NU's bench was also a huge part of the win, out-scoring FSU 36-2.

Three players shared Northwood team-high honors in scoring, as Aleigha Wylie (Hemlock, Mich./Midland), Rachel Church (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek) and Sarah Spring (Brighton, Mich.) all finished with 13 points.  Wylie also added 10 rebounds for her first career double-double.  Kaitlin Susan (Grand Rapids, Mich./Byron Center) came off the bench to finish with 10 points, five rebounds and four blocks.

Northwood will travel to Grand Valley State Saturday night (January 19).  Game time is set for 8 p.m.