Women's Basketball Downs Ferris State 65-61

MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University women's basketball team defeated Ferris State 65-61 on Thursday evening (February 12).

With the second win over the Bulldogs this season, the Timberwolves are now 15-9 overall and 11-7 in the GLIAC. Ferris State drops to 10-11 on the year and 8-10 in the GLIAC.

Both teams started the game battling to force five lead changes within the first six minutes, leaving the Northwood with a 13-11 advantage at 13:50. From that point on, NU would go on an 18-9 run to take a 31-20 lead with 4:02 to go in the half before eventually leading 38-28 into the locker room. The Timberwolves connected on 8-11 from three-point range in the opening period for 72.7 percent. This would lead to Northwood shooting a total of 15-26 from the floor (57.7 percent). Despite being out-rebounded (13-12), NU held a first half advantage with 14 assists to just four for the Bulldogs. Ferris State shot 44.0 percent (11-25) from the floor.

Northwood extended the lead to 42-31 in the first four minutes of the second half but the Bulldogs would fight back cutting it to 46-45 with just under ten minutes to go. NU would go on a quick 5-0 run to put the lead back up to six and never looked back. With 1:50 remaining, FSU was within two at 58-56 but Northwood's Maddy Seeley (Alma, Mich.) would knock down a three-pointer and two free throws to seal the deal for the Timberwolves.

For the game, NU shot 46.0 percent (23-50) from the floor despite shooting just 33.3 percent (8-24) in the second half. Ferris State finished the game at 43.1 percent on 22-51 shooting. FSU held a 35-26 rebounding advantage, while Northwood finished with 18 assists and nine steals.

Three Timberwolves finished in double-figures as Gabrielle Rivette (Fenton, Mich.) led all scorers with 23 points. Seeley finished with 16, while Sarah Susan (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Byron Center) added 12 points and four assists. With six rebounds tonight, Kaitlin Susan (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Byron Center) broke the longest standing career record in the women's basketball program. Susan is now the all-time leading rebounder in school history with 804 rebounds, passing NU Hall of Famer Andrea Raby (800), who played from 1980-84. Raby played on the team during the first four seasons in the history of Northwood basketball.

The Timberwolves will be on the road on Saturday (February 14) at Grand Valley. The women are slated to tip off at 6 p.m. Northwood will be back home next week for "Coming Home" with a pair of GLIAC games and a week-long theme of '90's Throwback'. NU plays host to Michgian Tech on Thursday (February 19) at 6 p.m. before hosting Northern Michigan on Saturday (February 19) at 1 p.m.