Ferris State Comeback Lifts Bulldogs To First Win Of Kurt Westendorp Era

Highlights & Postgame Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - An impressive comeback enabled the Ferris State University women's basketball squad to register a weekend split as the Bulldogs picked up their first win under new head coach Kurt Westendorp with a 91-89 triumph over Parkside on Saturday (Jan. 16) in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

The victory included perhaps the top freshman performance in school history as rookie Kaydn Blanchard tallied a game-high 39 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a near triple-double effort. The Freeland product's efforts included an impressive 15-of-15 showing at the free throw stripe.

In addition to Blanchard's noteworthy performance, sophomore guard Mallory McCartney also had a big day for the Bulldogs with 25 points, six steals and three assists.

Ferris State jumped out to a 16-14 lead at the end of the first period, but fell behind by as many as 16 points midway thru the second quarter as Parkside outscored FSU 33-17 in the second 10 minutes of action. 

The second half was a different story, however, as the Bulldogs surged back into the game and produced a 35-15 edge in third quarter scoring behind the play of Blanchard and McCartney. FSU held on down the stretch in the fourth quarter and used a big 26-of-28 (92.9%) effort at the free throw line to garner the win.

The victory was Westendorp's first at the Bulldog helm after taking over the FSU program this year following a stretch as the head coach at William Jessup in California. He returned to the Bulldog sidelines after previously serving as a Ferris State assistant coach from 2010-12.

The Bulldogs, who were playing their fourth-straight game without three key players from a year ago, including GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year Adrienne Anderson, shot 41.8% from the floor for the day, which included a key 12-of-15 (80%) performance in the third quarter alone. FSU also went nine-of-17 (52.9%) at the three-point stripe in avenging a 86-82 setback to the Rangers in Friday's weekend opener at Wink Arena.

While the Bulldogs tallied 91 points in an impressive offensive display, they also made enough stops defensively against a potent UWP attack. FSU had 14 steals and freshman Amaka Unobagha came up with four blocked shots while the Bulldogs also outrebounded the Rangers 41-40 for the game.

Parkside was led by Alyssa Nelson's 26-point performance. Three others also scored in double-digits, including Alexis Vaughn with 18 points, Claire Jakaitis with 14 points and Maddy Harrison, who had 12 points.

The Rangers finished shooting at a 44.3% clip, but went only five-of-16 (31.3%) in the third quarter after hitting on 14-of-18 (77.8%) shots in the second quarter. Parkside made 10-of-29 (34.5%) three's and 17-of-23 (73.9%) free throws.

Ferris State hits the road for its next three games, starting with a weekend trip to Northern Michigan on Jan. 22-23. Both games get underway on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET) in Marquette.