11-0 run in the fourth quarter made the difference for the Bulldogs
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – In a top-20 matchup, the No. 20 Northern Michigan Wildcats fell to the No. 16 Ferris State Bulldogs 80-68 on Saturday afternoon at Jim Wink Arena.
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.
How it Happened
Ferris State opened fast, jumping out to a 7-2 lead just 80 seconds in. Northern answered with their bench unit, and a Sydney Whitehouse three tied the game at 9-9.
Out of the media timeout, the Bulldogs drained three straight triples to quickly double up NMU, 22-11. The Wildcats missed their final nine field-goal attempts of the quarter as Ferris carried a 24-12 lead after one.
Reide Osterman converted an and-one to open the second quarter, but the Bulldogs continued their hot shooting from deep, starting 6-9 from beyond the arc. They kept it going with two more threes in the final 90 seconds of the half, finishing 9-15 from long range in the half to take a 44-30 lead into the break.
Ferris State carried its momentum into the second half, knocking down its 10th three-pointer on the opening possession. Sarah Newcomer responded with a pair of triples to spark a 9-2 run that pulled the Northern Michigan Wildcats back within 10. A Sydney Whitehouse three later trimmed the deficit to single digits, 55-46, midway through the third.
Jacy Weisbrod added a jumper in the closing seconds as Northern outscored the Bulldogs 25-16 in the quarter, cutting it to 60-55 entering the fourth, the closest margin since early in the first.
The Wildcats drew within one possession early in the final period, but Ferris State answered with the next 11 points to push the lead back to 14. Back-to-back Alyssa Hill layups made it 73-68 with three minutes to play, before the Bulldogs closed on a 7-0 run to seal the game.
Up Next
The Wildcats will close out the final weekend of the regular season at home, starting with the Roosevelt Lakers on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 5:30 p.m.
