SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team will host the Ferris State Bulldogs in a single game on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6:00 p.m. in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. As the two teams are Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) travel partners, the Lakers and Bulldogs will play one another in a home and home series that will conclude on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Big Rapids, Mich.
The Lakers
Through the first six games of the season, Lake Superior State has posted a 1-5 overall record in GLIAC play this season. Last weekend, the Lakers traveled to Houghton, Mich. for a pair of road games against the Michigan Tech Huskies. After playing a strong first half in both games, the Lakers would fall to the Huskies in both meetings by scores of 61-46 and 69-49.
Through the first three weekends of the 2021 season, the Lakers have two players averaging over 10 points per game in sophomore guard Margot Woughter and sophomore transfer Mattison Rayman. Woughter, who didn't play last weekend against Michigan Tech, leads the team with 14.0 points per game on a 40.0 shooting percentage. Rayman, who missed the Lakers opening series of the season, has averaged 11.0 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds per game with 6.5. Rayman ranks first among her teammates with a 48.4 shooting percentage this season.
Last weekend against the Huskies, the Lakers were led by Makenzie Bray, who totaled 27 points in the series. Bray recorded a season-high 15 points in Friday's game, as she went 6-for-14 and 3-for-6 from three in the game. Bray added 12 points for the Lakers in Saturday's game while also adding three rebounds.
As a team, the Laker offense is combining for 53.3 per game this season on a 33.4 shooting percentage and a 26.7 percentage from three. Lake Superior has recorded an average of 29.5 rebounds per game this season.
Last Season's Series
Last season, the Lakers and the Bulldogs played each other twice with Ferris State winning both meetings. The Bulldogs won the first game by a final score of 81-71 on Dec. 14, 2019 and added a 71-65 win at home against the Lakers on Feb. 27, 2020.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Ferris State will travel to Sault Ste. Marie for the first of two meetings against the Lakers this season. The Bulldogs are led by head coach Kurt Westendorp, who is in his first season in the role at Ferris State. Last season, the Bulldogs posted a 21-8 overall record (15-5 GLIAC) and was voted to finish in first in the standings in the GLIAC North Division Preseason Poll.
Last weekend, the Bulldogs played a road series against the Northern Michigan Wildcats and the two teams split the season. The Bulldogs dropped the first game of the series by a final score of 77-61 and responded with a 66-64 win on Sunday. Through six games this season, the Bulldogs have registered a 2-4 overall record.
The Bulldogs have been led by freshman guard Kadyn Blanchard who has averaged 22.3 points per game this season on a 44.1 shooting percentage. In addition, Blanchard ranks second on the team in rebounds per game (5.5). Sophomore guard Mallory McCartney has also had a strong start to the season as she is averaging 14.7 points per game for Ferris.
Ferris State's senior guard Adrienne Anderson, who was chosen as the GLIAC North Division's Preseason Player of the Year, has not yet appeared in a game for the Bulldogs this season. Anderson averaged 15.1 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs as a junior.
As a team, the Bulldogs offense is combining for 66.7 points per game this season on a 39.4 shooting percentage and a 33.8 percentage from three. Ferris State has recorded an average of 31.3 rebounds per game this season.
Follow the Lakers
Due to State of Michigan, GLIAC and Lake Superior State University mandates, fans are not currently permitted to attend any Laker sporting events. Even though spectators cannot currently attend Laker home games, there are still a number of ways that fans will be able to follow the game action. All Laker home games during the 2021 season will be available to watch live on Stretch TV. For more information or to sign up for a subscription, visit https://portal.stretchinternet.com/lssu/. Fans can also tune in to the radio broadcast on ESPN 1400, the official radio station of Laker basketball.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com
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