KENOSHA Wis. — Parkside women's basketball opens postseason play Wednesday evening as the No. 6 seed in the GLIAC Tournament, traveling to Jim Wink Arena to face No. 3 seed and 13th-ranked Ferris State. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. CT.
The Rangers enter the tournament at 14-14 overall after finishing 9-11 in GLIAC play to secure the sixth seed. Parkside closed the regular season with a split weekend in the Upper Peninsula, earning a 61-49 win at Michigan Tech before falling 65-56 at No. 22 Northern Michigan. In the regular-season finale, junior Cassidy Arni reached the 1,000-point mark for her career.
All-time in the GLIAC Tournament, the Rangers are 4-8 and have never won a conference tournament championship. Parkside was the No. 5 seed a year ago and fell on the road at Wayne State, 65-52.
This season, the Rangers have been defined by balance and defense. Parkside ranks fifth in the GLIAC in both scoring offense (65.5 points per game) and scoring defense (63.7). The Rangers are also one of the league's premier shot-blocking teams, averaging 4.1 blocks per game, second in the conference and 32nd nationally.
Individually, Parkside features three double-figure scorers, led by Arni at 13.5 points per game. Senior point guard Peighton Nelson has been the conference's top distributor, leading the GLIAC in assists per game at 4.7 and ranking second in total assists with 132. On the interior, Lillie Petersen has anchored the glass, ranking second in the conference at 7.8 rebounds per game while providing consistent production on both ends.
Wednesday marks the third meeting this season between Parkside and Ferris State.
Wednesday, March 4
No. 6 Parkside at No. 3 Ferris State
5 p.m. CT | Jim Wink Arena | Big Rapids, Mich.
SCOUTING NO. 13 FERRIS STATE:
Ferris State enters the GLIAC Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the conference, having won 11 of its last 12 games. The Bulldogs are 24-5 overall and 17-3 in GLIAC play, finishing third in the standings and ranked second in the latest Midwest Region poll behind No. 2 Grand Valley State.
The Bulldogs split their final regular-season weekend, falling at No. 2 Grand Valley State (70-44) before responding with a 71-62 win at Davenport. Ferris State has only one GLIAC Tournament championship in program history, claiming the title in 2022 with a 59-51 win over Grand Valley State.
Statistically, Ferris State owns one of the most explosive offenses in Division II, averaging 77.7 points per game, second in the GLIAC and 13th nationally. The Bulldogs also rank fourth in the conference in scoring defense at 64.0 points allowed per game.
Ferris State shares the ball at an elite level, averaging 18.4 assists per game, third most in the country. The Bulldogs are also the nation's top free-throw shooting team at 82.2 percent and are one of the most aggressive perimeter offenses in the country, attempting just over 28 three-pointers per game and making 9.1 per contest, both top-five nationally. Defensively, they force more than 15 turnovers per game.
Kadyn Blanchard leads a balanced attack, ranking second in the GLIAC in scoring at 16.6 points per game and pacing a lineup that features four double-figure scorers.
SERIES HISTORY:
This will be the 25th meeting between Parkside and Ferris State, with the Bulldogs holding a 16-8 all-time advantage and winning the last five straight in the series. Parkside is 0-2 against Ferris State this season, falling 96-90 in Big Rapids on Jan. 5 and 82-69 in Kenosha on Feb. 7.
In the first meeting, Parkside shot 49.3 percent from the field and made 11 three-pointers in a six-point game, but Ferris State countered by shooting 54.5 percent and attempting 33 free throws. In the second matchup, the Rangers again shot efficiently at 49.2 percent, but the Bulldogs' 82-point offensive output proved decisive. The Rangers lead the the half in both contests.
All-time in Big Rapids, Parkside is 2-10 and has not won inside Jim Wink Arena since Jan. 14, 2023. The Rangers have dropped three straight games in the building.
This will be the third meeting between the programs in the GLIAC Tournament. The series is tied 1-1 in postseason play. Ferris State defeated Parkside 72-64 in the 2023 quarterfinals in Kenosha, while the Rangers earned an 82-59 tournament win over the Bulldogs in 2021.
LOOKING AHEAD:
With a win Wednesday, Parkside would advance to the GLIAC semifinals on Saturday, March 7, at the highest remaining seed's home court, facing the winner of the quarterfinal between No. 2 (RV) Wayne State and No. 7 Roosevelt.
To follow the Rangers throughout the postseason, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
