Big Rapids, Mich. – Parkside saw its five-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday in a tightly contested battle against Ferris State. A strong second half proved to be the difference, as Ferris State outscored Parkside 50-39 after halftime. Despite the loss, Cassidy Arni recorded her third consecutive 20+ point performance.
Inside the Box Score:
- Cassidy Arni led Parkside with 22 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. She made 11 of her points at the free-throw line and added four steals on defense.
- Chloe Van Zeeland made a major impact on both ends of the floor, finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes of action.
- Lillie Petersen led the team with 11 rebounds while contributing seven points and four assists.
How It Happened:
The opening quarter set the tone for a physical battle. In front of a loud and energetic home crowd, Ferris State jumped out to a 17-7 lead midway through the first. However, Parkside responded, settling in and putting together a 10-0 run, highlighted by scoring contributions from Arni, Alli Hampel, Van Zeeland, and Sheridan Flauger. The teams traded baskets to close the quarter, with Ferris State holding a slim 20-19 advantage.
Peighton Nelson opened the second quarter with a basket to give Parkside its first lead of the game. However, turnovers became a major issue, as the Rangers gave the ball away 12 times in the first half. Despite the struggles, Parkside stayed in the fight, thanks to a strong effort from Hampel, who grabbed multiple offensive rebounds to create second-chance opportunities. Midway through the quarter, Hampel converted an offensive board into two points, temporarily giving Parkside the lead. Timely shots from Petersen and Van Zeeland helped the Rangers take a narrow 37-35 lead into the halftime break.
Ferris State used its home-court energy to take control in the second half. While Parkside held the lead for much of the third quarter, Ferris State found its rhythm late, finishing the period strong to take a three-point lead into the fourth. Flauger hit a big three-pointer with four minutes left in the third, briefly putting Parkside up by four, but Ferris State responded to regain momentum. They would lead by three going to the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Ferris State's offense was nearly unstoppable, shooting 60% from the field and knocking down four three-pointers. The Bulldogs built a comfortable lead, and despite continued scoring from Arni and Van Zeeland, Parkside could not close the gap.
With the loss, Parkside fell to 17-8 overall and 12-6 in GLIAC play. The Rangers now sit in fourth place, just half a game behind Northern Michigan for third.
Next Up:
Parkside returns home for the final weekend of the regular season. The Rangers will host Northern Michigan on Thursday night and Michigan Tech on Saturday at De Simone Arena. For coverage of the events, visit ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
