Ferris State Earns Big Regional Triumph Over Southern Indiana At Wink Arena

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball squad posted a huge win on Saturday (Nov. 23) as the Bulldogs beat Southern Indiana 86-75 in regional action at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs, who were playing without starting point guard Shaniya Huggins, topped the Screaming Eagles to improve to 4-1 on the year. USI was coming off a season-opening upset of the nation's 11th-ranked squad and fell to 1-1 overall.

Senior forward Riley Blair had a huge day for the Bulldogs with a game-high 27 points and six rebounds in 36 minutes of work. Freshman guard Mallory McCartney also had a big afternoon as she totaled 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in 38 minutes.

Along with Blair and McCartney, Bulldog junior guard Adrienne Anderson compiled 15 points, six steals, five boards and two assists with senior center Brayene Benner adding eight points, seven boards, five steals and four blocks.

Ferris State forced 24 Southern Indiana turnovers and the Bulldogs shot 47.4% from the floor in the win while sinking 25-of-30 (83.3%) free throws. FSU also went seven-of-15 (46.7%) beyond the three-point arc.

After Southern Indiana built a six-point lead only three minutes into the game, FSU responded and took a three-point lead into the second frame. The advantage grew to 10 points at halftime before the Bulldogs opened up a 20-point edge early in the third period.

However, USI rallied and eventually trimmed the margin back down to single digits in the final stanza, but the Bulldogs made the plays down the stretch to pull out the win.

Southern Indiana shot 41.9% overall and hit six-of-20 (30%) long range tries to go with a 17-of-19 (89.5%) showing at the line.

Both Ashlynn Brown and Emma DeHart totaled 16 points apiece while Southern Indiana also received 12 points from Kiara Moses and 10 by Addy Blackwell.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Sunday, Dec. 1, as they host another regional foe in Lewis (Ill.) at Wink Arena starting at 1 p.m. (ET).