ERIE, Pa. – The No. 4 University of North Georgia (UNG) women's basketball team opened the 2025-26 season falling 68-59 to (RV) Ferris State in the opening round of the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic inside the Highmark Events Center at Gannon.
Caroline Martin led the way for the Nighthawks with 17 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Hannah Cail added 13 points and three assists, while
Jaleah Storr nearly posted a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
Riley Simmons contributed five points and strong minutes off the bench as part of a balanced North Georgia effort that saw nine players record at least one field goal.
Ferris State stormed out to a 20-7 lead after the opening quarter, but North Georgia responded to trail 29-24 at the half courtesy of a 17-9 second quarter surge. The Nighthawks held the Bulldogs to just four second-chance points in the second quarter while Cail and Martin combined for 11 points to narrow the gap to five at halftime.
Out of the break, North Georgia's offense found its rhythm. A 23-point third quarter fueled by a series of transition baskets and back-to-back threes from Martin pushed the Nighthawks in front midway through the frame.
UNG led 56-52 with 5:39 remaining, but Ferris State took control with 11-0 run.
The teams traded the lead four times before Ferris State's late run, punctuated by clutch shooting from Mia Riley (20 points, 7 rebounds) and Kadyn Blanchard (19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists) sealed the outcome in the final minutes.
Despite the setback, North Georgia owned a 48-34 rebounding advantage, including 17 offensive boards.
North Georgia will now travel down to Edinboro tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 8) for 7:00 p.m. start of the second game of the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic. The Erie Sports Commission, in partnership with Gannon and Edinboro, is host of the 2025 D2CCA Tip-Off Classic, presented by AHN Sports Medicine and AHN Pavilion. The games are being played at the newly renovated Highmark Events Center on the campus of Gannon and the McComb Fieldhouse at PennWest on the campus of Edinboro.
