#18 Ferris State Dominates Purdue Northwest In League-Opening Road Victory

Highlights & Postgame Interview 

HAMMOND, Ind. — The nation's 18th-ranked Ferris State University women's basketball squad defeated Purdue Northwest in its GLIAC opener on Thursday (Dec. 4) night in decisive fashion, 97-43, with a strong performance highlighted by 17 three-pointers and 16 steals.

Ferris State dominated the first quarter against Purdue Northwest, jumping out to a commanding lead. Mya Hiram opened the scoring with two free throws and contributed significantly on both ends, collecting key rebounds. Kadyn Blanchard and Mia Riley spearheaded the Bulldogs' offensive surge, combining for multiple fast-break points and three-pointers. Purdue Northwest struggled offensively, managing only seven points while turning the ball over six times. The quarter ended with Ferris State ahead, 33-7, setting a dominant tone early in the contest.

FSU also dominated the second quarter, outscoring Purdue Northwest 26-10. Riley Milausnic briefly narrowed the gap with a 3-pointer at 8:48, assisted by Caley Strahan, but the Bulldogs' defense forced nine turnovers in the period. Riley scored a layup with 7:16 remaining, extending Ferris State's lead to 35-12. The visitors continued their scoring surge with a 3-pointer from Charlotte Miller at 3:11, assisted by Claire Erickson, pushing the lead to 45-17. A late layup by Mara Mitchell at 0:29 capped the scoring for Ferris State, concluding the quarter with a commanding 59-17 advantage.

Kadyn Blanchard led the Bulldogs with a strong performance in the third quarter, scoring consistently to extend their lead over PNW. Blanchard's efforts included a 3-pointer at the 7:53 mark, assisted by Riley, and a fast-break layup shortly after. Grace Lyons added to the momentum with a 3-pointer, assisted by Emma Schierbeek, pushing FSU's advantage further. Miller and Riley contributed defensively, with Ferris State recording four steals in the quarter, limiting Purdue Northwest's scoring opportunities. The period ended with Ferris State outscoring the home team 23-13, maintaining control of the game.

The Bulldogs maintained their lead in the fourth quarter, securing a 97-43 victory over the Pride. Lyons made a significant impact early in the quarter, hitting consecutive 3-pointers at 9:29 and 8:43, which extended the lead. Purdue Northwest responded with a layup from Aniyah Bishop at 8:58 but struggled to close the gap. Mitchell added to Ferris State's score with a 3-pointer at 7:21, assisted by Hiram. Despite efforts from Purdue Northwest, including a late 3-pointer from Cameryn Phillips at 27 seconds, Ferris State's defense, highlighted by Alyssa Wirth's block at 1:57, held firm to secure the win.

Blanchard led Ferris State with 21 points, converting 8 of 11 field goals and making three 3-pointers. Lyons added 12 points, successfully hitting four shots from beyond the arc. Riley contributed 15 points and four assists while collecting five rebounds. Miller made an impact with two steals and chipped in five points.

Phillips led Purdue Northwest with nine points, hitting three of four from beyond the arc and adding three assists. Ciara Sims contributed 10 points, going 4-for-9 from the field, and recorded two rebounds. Strahan and Milausnic each tallied two steals, with Strahan also scoring nine points and Milausnic adding five. Alyssa Cole grabbed six rebounds, including two on the offensive end, to round out the team's notable performers.

The Bulldogs improved to 7-1 overall with the win. FSU will visit Wayne State on Saturday (Dec. 6) for a 1 p.m. (ET) league matchup in Detroit.