Jan. 23, 2025
Elle Irwin plays many roles in success of Ferris State women's basketball team
Elle Irwin is a throwback type of player who quietly works hard every day, hits big shots, often takes on the defensive challenge of the opponent's top scorer, shoulders leadership responsibilities and does it all with a positive and team-first attitude.
This season, the former Rockford High School standout has had little to complain about being elevated into an expanded role as a junior for a Ferris State women's basketball team coming off its best campaign in program history, finishing 26-6 last year and winning the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championship in 2023-24.
The Bulldogs are well into their 2024-25 season and performing at a high level with a 13-4 overall record, including 7-1 in the highly competitive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Ferris State returns home for GLIAC games on Thursday evening against Northern Michigan at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday afternoon vs. Michigan Tech at 1 p.m. in Jim Wink Arena.
"Last year, I came off the bench as our sixth man and it gave me an opportunity to be a spark for my team as that player coming into the game when the starters get a rest," said Irwin, a 5-foot-9 junior. "This year, I've had to step into a bigger role for our team as a starter and being named a team captain."
Averaging nearly 30 minutes on the court per game, Irwin has been a starter in every game this season for Ferris State, averaging 8.5 points, shooting 46.3 percent from outside the 3-point line and 3.5 rebounds and three assists.
Irwin thrives as a jack-of-all-trades for her Bulldogs, including being a defensive standout against some of the best players in the conference, region and nation.
"My role is to score the ball when I'm open, but I'm not going to force things," said Irwin, a Business Administration major who was a GLIAC Academic Excellence award recipient during the 2023-24 season with a 3.96 grade point average. "I pass the ball and focus on playing great defense. The big thing for me is to go out there and be a team player."
Irwin locks in as a defender, regularly taking on the challenge of guarding the opponent's best perimeter offensive player.
"I feel like I'm not always the biggest scorer, the greatest scorer every time, but that's OK," she said. "I'm going to take what's open and I'm going to do my specialty, which I feel is playing defense."
"I'm always going to guard their best player, and I'm going to do what I can to shut her down and do whatever else the team needs," Irwin added.
Ferris State has had to battle through injuries this season. Injuries have tested the Bulldogs' depth, but the team is still in it to win it. Head coach Kurt Westendorp has shown confidence in all available players on his roster, many of whom are seeing regular minutes on the court this season.
Irwin said she and her teammates lock in on team success no matter what players are in the game.
"That's one of the great things about our team," she said of a team that bonded last season during a historic championship run before returning this winter, seeking ongoing success with a new group. "We're all supporting and celebrating each other's success."