SALEM, WV - A strong first quarter of play wouldn't be enough for the Tigers on Monday afternoon (Jan. 2) as Salem International University looked to make it back-to-back wins against the visiting Bulldogs from Ferris State University. The Bulldogs would turn-on the offense in the second quarter, out-scoring SIU 29-16 en route to a 66-49 victory.

The Tigers (2-12) scored the first 10 points of the contest and looked to be in control with a 13-8 lead after the opening 10-minutes of play. The strong-start for the Tigers was answered by 29-point performance from the Bulldogs in the second quarter as Ferris State shot 12-of-18 from the floor.

Sophomore Keishla Gilmore would score a team-high 11 points for SIU, while junior Jessica Woney scored 10 points off of the bench for the Tigers.

Riley Blair and Lilly George each tallied 10 points for the Bulldogs in the first-half of action. The Tigers stayed within 10-points of Ferris State thanks to its effort at the free throw line, going 9-of-14, while the Bulldogs were 4-of-5 from the charity stripe.

The Bulldogs took a 37-29 lead into the half and out-scored SIU 20-8 inside of the paint.

The third quarter of action saw the same style of play from the Bulldogs as they used a 21-10 run to widen the gap. Ferris State went to the free throw line 12 times in the third quarter, connecting nine times.

Salem did its best to try and rally in the fourth quarter as Ferris State went just 1-of-14 from the floor and 1-of-3 from downtown. The Tigers, however, would struggle from the floor as well, shooting 3-of-17 from the floor and 2-of-6 from three-point range.

Rachel McInerney tallied 13 of Ferris State's 29 second-half points on 3-of-7 shooting and a 7-for-8 effort at the free throw line.

Gilmore would add eight rebounds and three assists to go along with her 11 points for SIU, while Sophomore Imari Bowers went 3-of-7 from downtown for nine points. Freshman Quamilla Jackson scored eight points and added a team-high nine rebounds off of the bench for the Tigers, while junior Safiya Hernandez recorded eight rebounds.

McInerney paced the Bulldogs with 22 points and a 10-for-11 effort at the charity stripe. George finished with 11 points and eight rebounds for Ferris State.

SIU shot 15-of-61 from the floor, 7-of-22 from downtown, and 12-of-20 from the free throw line in the contest, while Ferris State shot 22-of-68 from the floor, 4-of-12 from three-point range and 18-of-25 from the free throw line. The Bulldogs out-rebounded SIU 37-33 and forced the Tigers into 16 turnovers. Ferris State also owned the advantage inside of the paint, 30-16.