SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State women's basketball team will travel to Big Rapids, Mich. for a single contest against the Ferris State Bulldogs at the Jim Wink Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6:00 p.m. for a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) game.
The Lakers and the Bulldogs met previously this season in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium on Tuesday, Jan. 26 with the Bulldogs winning the first game of the series by a final score of 83-65. Makenzie Bray led the Lakers with 16 points in the game while Jaden Wilder (13 points) and Mattison Rayman (11 points) rounded out the Lakers top three scorers against Ferris.
The Lakers
Through 13 games of the season, Lake Superior State has posted a 1-12 overall record in GLIAC play. Last weekend, the Lakers hosted the Northwood University Timberwolves for a pair of games in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium. The Lakers fell to the Timberwolves in the first game by a score of 80-61 and dropped the second game by an 87-59 final.
With the majority of regular season games played, the Lakers have been led by the team's large incoming class as well as some key returners. Sophomore forward Mattison Rayman, who has started all 11 games she's played in this season, has averaged 12.0 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds per game with 6.5. Rayman enters the game against the Bulldogs in eighth place among all GLIAC players in rebounds per game. Rayman, who averages 24.9 minutes on the floor each game, ranks second among her teammates with a 46.9 shooting percentage this season. Last weekend against Northwood, Rayman posted consecutive double-figures in points with 16 on Friday and 15 on Saturday. In the pair of games, Rayman averaged a 60.0% shooting percentage and went a perfect 2-for-2 on three point attempts. In addition, Rayman recorded 10 rebounds in the weekend series.
Newcomers Makenzie Bray and Jaden Wilder have both made an impact on the floor in their first season with the Lakers. Bray, a transfer forward, is averaging 8.3 points per game and posted a season-best 16 points against Ferris State on Jan. 26. The forward has recorded five double-digit point games this season. Bray has the second best shooting percentage from three (36.7%) on the team.
Wilder, a freshman guard, has started the past six games for the Lakers and played a season-high 40 minutes against the Panthers on Saturday. Wilder has registered double figures in points in four of the last six games for the Lakers, and ranks third on the team with a 34.2% shooting percentage.
As a team, the Laker offense is combining for 55.6 points per game this season on a 34.6 shooting percentage and a 25.8 percentage from three. Lake Superior has recorded an average of 31.8 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 host the Lakers as the two teams will play their second meeting of the 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 home series against the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals and the two teams split the series. The Bulldogs won the first game of the series by a final score of 65-58 and fell in the closing game with a 67-52 loss. Through 13 this season, the Bulldogs have recorded a 4-9 overall record.
The Bulldogs have been led by freshman guard Kadyn Blanchard, who has started all 13 games this season, averages 17.9 points per game this season on a 39.5 shooting percentage and a 34.5 percentage from three. In addition, Blanchard ranks second on the team in rebounds per game (5.3).
Sophomore guard Mallory McCartney has had a strong season for the Bulldogs as she is averaging 12.6 points per game for Ferris. McCartney leads her teammates with an average of 37.8 minutes on the floor per game while ranking third on the Bulldogs in rebounds (4.2) and first in both assists (3.8) and steals (2.9).
As a team, the Bulldogs offense is combining for 63.1 points per game this season on a 37.9 shooting percentage and a 29.6 percentage from three. Ferris State has recorded an average of 34.7 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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