GLIAC Women’s Basketball Preview
Bay City, Mich. -- The names and faces change from year to year, but well-run programs reload and the high level of competitive women's Division II college basketball remains a constant each season in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Looking ahead to the 2008-09 GLIAC season begins, this season offers no shortage of star power as this highly-anticipated campaign tips off. In the preseason women's basketball media poll, Michigan Tech was picked as a strong favorite in the North Division while Hillsdale was nearly as strong a pick to take the top honors in the South. Star power is a key reason that both the Huskies and Chargers are expected to enjoy strong seasons in the league, region and nation. Tech returns forward Katie Wysocky, a definite All-American candidate coming off a strong season during which she averaged 16.1 points and 9.7 rebounds. The Huskies also welcome the return of 2006-07 All-GLIAC player Sarah Stream, a top-notch guard, who missed last winter with an injury. In the South Division, Hillsdale welcomes back one of the best players in the nation. The Chargers welcome back the league's top returning player in senior forward Katie Cezat, who averaged 24 points and 12.6 rebounds last season.
In the North Division, Grand Valley was picked to finish second in the league while Ferris State was third, Lake Superior State was fourth, Saginaw Valley State was fifth and Northern Michigan was selected sixth. The Lakers and Bulldogs lose some key players to graduation, but have talent returning with solid recruiting classes. Lake State, SVSU and NMU have experienced players ready to elevate their respective programs.
In the South Division, a fast-rising Northwood is a newcomer after moving over from the North Division and was picked second in the preseason poll. Ashland was selected third, Wayne State was picked fourth, Findlay was fifth and newcomer Tiffin was picked sixth. The South has all the makings of a tough race from start to finish as the Timberwolves appear poised to be a new factor in the title chase.
Here's a preview of teams in their projected order of finish according to the 2008-09 GLIAC Preseason Women's Basketball Media Poll:
North Division
1. Michigan Tech
Overview: The Huskies return a roster loaded with talent from top to bottom led by an All-American candidate in forward Katie Wysocky, who averaged 16.1 points and 9.7 rebounds. The return of talented guard Sarah Stream, who when healthy is one of the best players in the GLIAC, should really help the team chemistry tremendously. Returning close to 80 percent of its scoring from last season, the beat goes on for a Michigan Tech program with one of the top women's basketball traditions in the GLIAC. The preseason expectations are high as MTU is ranked seventh in the 2008 Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 rankings.
Coaching: John Barnes is in his sixth season as the head women's basketball coach at Michigan Tech University.
Coach Burgess: "Sarah Stream is back for us as a junior and we have seven players back overall who have started in significant games. We're excited about where we're going."
2007-08 Record: 23-8 overall, 13-5 GLIAC
2. Grand Valley State
Overview: The Lakers will have a bit of a fresh look with a lot of new faces in the lineup thanks to a strong recruiting class. One of the veterans returning to the hardwood is 5-foot-10 guard Kim Wyngaard, a senior, who averaged 12 points and 6.2 rebounds during her junior season for GVSU. Sophomore Elizabeth Van Tiflin and a very strong freshman class led by Jasmine Padin and Emma Veach give the Lakers reason for a lot of long-term optimism.
Coaching: Janel Burgess is in her second season as the head women's basketball coach at Grand Valley State University.
Coach Burgess: "Kim Wyngaard is back as a leader for our team and we also have an eight-player class of freshmen coming in for us. The GLIAC is a tough conference with good competition from top to bottom."
2007-08 Record: 16-12 overall, 11-7 GLIAC
3. Ferris State
Overview: Ferris has some large shoes to fill with the loss of high-scoring 6-foot-1 forward Rachel Folcik. But, the Bulldogs do have a group of experienced players returning led by senior guard Teghan Thelen, who averaged 10.4 points and 4.1 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Becci Houdek has a year of GLIAC experience to her credit and Ferris also welcomes back veteran frontcourt players in Caitlin Hutchison, Jenna Guay and Ashley Fleming. The addition of Chelsea (Ciba) Simonetti, who transferred in from Western Michigan, gives the Bulldogs another talented backcourt player along with three highly-touted freshmen recruits (Kelsey DeNoyelles, Tricia Principe and Lindsey Pettit).
Coaching: Tracey Dorow is in her 11th season as the head women's basketball coach at Ferris State University.
Coach Dorow: "It's going to be a lot different for us without having Rachel Folcik in there to rely on. We have four seniors with experience with Teghan Thelen coming back as one of our leaders. We also have Becci Houdek back at point guard after doing some double duty playing soccer this fall."
2007-08 Record: 17-12 overall, 11-7 GLIAC
4. Lake Superior State
Overview: Returning one of the more experienced frontcourts led by Jaclyn Armstrong and Alyssa VanderWal, the Lakers hope to climb the ladder in the North Division of the GLIAC this season. Lake Superior got an early start to the season with three games it played in down in Florida as part of the Disney DII Tip-off East Coast Classic. So far through three games, Armstrong is the leading scorer averaging 14.7 per game while guard Ronlea Peterson is second at 11.3, Nicole Marshall is third at 11 and VanderWal is fourth at 10.7 as part of a balanced scoring punch.
Coach: Jamie Pewinski is in her third year as the head women's basketball coach at Lake Superior State University.
Coach Pewinski: "Our expectations are pretty lofty this season. We're pretty strong with Jaclyn Armstrong and Alyssa VanderWal while our guards have gained experience."
2007-08 Record: 12-14 overall, 8-10 GLIAC
5. Saginaw Valley State
Overview: This season, the Cardinals return a blend of experience and youth to the court this season in the GLIAC. Veteran guard Tricia Everett returns to the backcourt to give SVSU a steady hand of leadership running the show for the Cardinals. The 5-foot-5 Everett averaged 9.4 points as she played in and started all 27 of Saginaw Valley's games during her junior season. Everett and Stephanie Sills are the lone seniors on the Cardinals roster this season. Brittany Burkhardt (who averaged 11 points and 6.8 rebounds last season) is one of the players Saginaw Valley is likely to look to for some scoring punch in what will be a long schedule of GLIAC games this winter.
Coaching: Shannon Baugh is entering her first season as the head women's basketball coach at Saginaw Valley State University.
Coach Baugh: "We have two starters back for us in Tricia Everett and Brittany Burkhardt. We're all learning right now as we make the adjustments we need to make."
2007-08 Record: 12-15 overall, 5-13 GLIAC
6. Northern Michigan
Overview: The Wildcats are hoping to prove the media and others wrong as they fight to claw their way up the ladder in what is expected to be yet another competitive North Division title chase. One of the players NMU will be counting on this winter is talented guard Kelsey Deacon, who started all 26 of the team's games a year ago and averaged 12.3 points. Holly Cole returns as a senior to provide some outside shooting while two other seniors (Cassie Hegbloom and Cassi Rushford) bring experience to the Wildcats. Northern teams always play hard and the coaches are hopeful the team can breakthrough and steal wins in some of those close games this winter.
Coaching: Troy Mattson is entering his third season as the head women's basketball coach at Northern Michigan University.
Coach Mattson: We're returning four of our five starters. We were competitive last year in our games, but it just seemed like there were a lot of games where we just couldn't get over the hump."
2007-08 Record: 9-17 overall, 4-14 GLIAC
South Division
1. Hillsdale
Overview: Expectations are very high this winter on the hardwood at Hillsdale College. The Chargers ranked No. 15 in the Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 rankings and a big reason for that is senior forward Katie Cezat. A year ago, Cezat averaged a nation's best 24 points along with 12.6 rebounds as she earned GLIAC Player of the Year honors and was named the Great Lakes Region player of the Year. Hillsdale also returns experience with GLIAC All-Defensive Team player Claire Aubrey and guards Brooke Knight and Janay Miller. The Chargers, once again, have a strong balance with a solid inside-outside combination.
Coaching: Claudette Charney is entering her seventh campaign as head women's basketball coach at Hillsdale College.
Coach Charney: "We're very fortunate to have the preseason GLIAC Player of the Year in Katie Cezat returning for us. We're looking forward to competing in what will be a very strong league from top to bottom."
2007-08 Record: 23-5 overall, 15-2 GLIAC
2. Northwood
Overview: Moving down to the South Division will be a new horizon of sorts for the Timberwolves. Even with that change, however, expect expectations to remain high for one of the most improved programs in the conference during the last few years. Northwood has a pair of talented forwards returning to lead the way in senior Megan Starnes, a first-team All-GLIAC North Division pick last season after averaging 13.3 points and 6.9 rebounds, and junior Jodi Ostergren, a second-team All-GLIAC North Division selection last season, who is strong at the free throw line and a major factor on the boards for Northwood averaging a league-best 3.78 offensive rebounds last season.
Coaching: Jeff Curtis, who has done a great job building the Timberwolves' program, is entering his fourth season as the head women's basketball coach at Northwood University.
Coach Curtis: "We have nine of our top 10 back from last season. Megan Starnes will be a senior and we also have Sarah Glowacki back for us and we expect them to do another great job of leading us."
2007-08 Record: 18-9 overall, 13-5 GLIAC
3. Ashland
Overview: Senior forward Lynsey Warren is focusing strictly on basketball after becoming an All-American setter for the Ashland volleyball team. The 6-foot-2 Warren averaged eight points, 4.9 rebounds and blocked 15 shots for the Eagles. Ashland also welcomes back senior guard Lisa Graue, who averaged 11.6 points and five rebounds last season; senior forward Betsy Morrison, who averaged 10.8 points and 6.7 rebounds; and senior forward Jessica Minch, who averaged 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds.
Coaching: Sue Ramsey is entering her 14th season as the head women's basketball coach at Ashland University.
Coach Ramsey: "We are looking at a nice experienced team we are expecting to send to the floor this season."
2007-08 Record: 19-11 overall, 10-7 GLIAC
4. Wayne State
Overview: Senior guard Jasmine McCall should be an integral part of Wayne State's success on the court this winter. McCall, an All-GLIAC South Division First-Team selection, led the team in scoring at 14.4 points per contest. She scored in double digits 22 times and scored at least 20 points on six different occasions. McCall led the GLIAC in steals with 101 as she averaged 3.74 per game. Chastidy Miller, a senior guard, also is back off a season during which she averaged 13 points per contest and 4.7 rebounds.
Coaching: Gloria Bradley is entering her ninth season as the head women's basketball coach at Wayne State University.
Coach Bradley: "We have (several) starters returning, three of which will be key players for us. They do a phenomenal job for us and we will be as successful as those players go."
2007-08 Record: 15-12 overall, 9-8 GLIAC
5. Findlay
Overview: The Oilers have rebuilt their program and some of those young players from past years now have GLIAC experience to their credit. Findlay will be led by junior guard Audra Mihalic, who has been a starter in all 53 of her career games, and senior forward Ashley Westenbarger, who returns off of a 26-game campaign during which she started 23 times. Last season, Mihalic averaged 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals. Westenbarger, with a soft outside shooting touch, averaged 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and shot a team-leading and GLIAC-best 45.9 percent (51-of-111) from the 3-point arc.
Coaching: Kate Cummings is entering her third year as the head women's basketball coach at the University of Findlay.
Coach Cummings: "Finally, we have some experienced players on our roster. We have six juniors who have gained some experience and we're really excited about our freshman class."
2007-08 Record: 9-17 overall, 3-14 GLIAC
6. Tiffin
Overview: Tiffin returns eight letterwinners from last season's team and the starting five as it enters its first season of true GLIAC competition. Megan Fletcher, who averaged 13.3 points per game last season; Leanne Lucius, who averaged 13.2 points a year ago; and Kylene Spiegel, who averaged 11.6 points, are returning key contributors for a Tiffin squad that finished 12-15 last season under Pam Oswald, who is entering her second season on the Dragons' bench.
Coaching: Pam Oswald is entering her second season on the Dragons' bench as head coach and last year her team finished 5-10 against GLIAC competition.
Coach Oswald: "We are looking forward to this year and playing an all-Division II schedule. We're really looking forward to competing in the GLIAC."
2007-08 Record: 12-15 overall
