Ferris State Takes #2 Ashland To The Wire In Heart-Breaking NCAA Tourney Setback

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball squad gave nationally second-ranked Ashland all it could handle in the NCAA Tournament on Friday (March 11), but the Bulldogs came up on the short end of a 76-73 decision at AU's Kates Gymnasium.

The host and top-seeded Eagles were taken to the wire by the eighth-seeded Bulldogs, who held a late lead before a big three-pointer from AU in the final 15 seconds gave the Eagles the edge. They withstood a potential game-winning possession from FSU in the closing seconds and hit two late free throws to seal the victory.

Ferris State battled to a one-point lead by the end of the first quarter. The Eagles responded with an 18-10 edge in the second quarter of the contest and headed into the half up seven on the Dawgs.

In the second half, the Bulldogs came out firing and made it a five-point game headed for the fourth quarter. Ferris State inched back to even at 67-67 when senior guard Adrienne Anderson hit a lay up. After three consecutive made free throws by sophomore guard Kadyn Blanchard, the Bulldogs took their first lead of the second half at 70-69.

The next trip down the floor, Blanchard extended the lead to three, was fouled, and hit a free throw to make it a four-point Bulldog lead with two minutes to play.

Ashland responded by making it a two-point game on the next possession. With six seconds remaining, Ashland guard Hallie Heidemann hit a long, contested triple to give the Eagles the lead for good at 74-73. Two made free throws off an intentional foul iced the game for Ashland.

The Bulldogs got big performances out of Adrienne Anderson, who had 17 second half points, good for 20 on the night. Blanchard finished with 17 points and six rebounds, while junior guard Mallory McCartney hit for 16 points and eight rebounds on the night.

Ashland was led by Macy Spielman's 18 points. Karlee Pieru had 17 points and eight rebounds on the night as well for the Eagles.

Ferris State stole the ball seven times and allowed just three takeaways for the Eagles. Ashland had 13 turnovers while Ferris State had 10 - good for 8.7 less than Ashland opponents averaged all season.

Ferris State, which reached the national tournament for the sixth time in program history, fell in its first on-court NCAA Tournament contest since 2012. FSU closed the year with a 22-10 overall record.

The Bulldogs lose a trio of seniors from this year's squad including Adrienne Anderson, Zoe Anderson and Samantha Krauss.

FSU won both the GLIAC North Division Regular-Season Championship and also the GLIAC Tournament Championship this season. The postseason tournament title was the Bulldogs' first in school history. The Bulldogs' 22 wins fell one shy of matching the school single-season mark for victories in a campaign.