Bulldog season ends in NCAA playoff
ASHLAND, Ohio - This was Adrian Anderson's final game as a Ferris State women's basketball player and a memorable one despite the loss.
The Ferris State University women's basketball team delivered nationally second-placed Ashland in the NCAA Tournament on Friday (March 11), but the Bulldogs came to the short end of a 76-73 decision at AU's Keats Gymnasium.
The hosts and top-seeded Eagles were taken to the wire by the eighth-seeded Bulldogs, who gave the Eagles the lead in the final 15 seconds before a big three-pointer from Au took the lead. He faced a potentially game-winning possession from FSU in the closing seconds and hit two late free throws to seal the victory.
Ferris State, which reached the national tournament for the sixth time in the program's history, fell in its first on-court NCAA Tournament competition since 2012. FSU closed out the year with an overall record of 22–10.
The Bulldogs lost a trio of seniors to this year's squad including Adrienne Anderson, Zoe Anderson and Samantha Cross. FSU won both the GLIAC North Division Regular-Season Championship and the GLIAC Tournament Championship this season. The postseason tournament title was the Bulldog's first title in the school's history.
The Bulldogs got a big performance from 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 the night for 16 points and eight rebounds.
Adrienne Anderson could sense something special was brewing in her final Ferris game.
Anderson averaged 13.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in 30 games and took 38.5 percent of shots from the floor, 37.6 percent in threes and 69.3 percent of shots from the free-throw line.
A torn rotator cuff shoulder injury plagued Anderson last season, but she was able to have a red-shirt year.
"So many people not only participated in my comeback, but in the successes I've had," Anderson said. “We are stuck together as a team. They are more than just teammates, they are lifelong friends.”
Before winning the GLIAC tournament, Anderson made it clear that his team was hungry for post-season success.
"We are hosting a tournament game, which is a great achievement for us," she said ahead of the tournament. "Now we are here to take it.
"Every win we get, we'll take it. They're all special."
Anderson, who played at Ypsilanti Prep High, earned all-conference honors for the Bulldogs in 2019-20 and led the team to the GLIAC North Division championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. He averaged over 15 points per competition.
In high school, she was a four-year varsity player, leading the team 96–11 at the time, including winning the Class C state championship in 2016.