October 8, 2010

Grand Valley State Ranked 20th in in Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25

BEAVERTON, Ore. — The Grand Valley State University women's basketball team earned the No. 20 ranking in the D-II Bulletin Women's Basketball Preseason Poll. GVSU returns four starters and seven letterwinners from a 2009-10 team that finished 18-10 overall and third in the GLIAC North Division with a 15-7 record.

For the sixth straight season, the Lakers owned a winning record and advanced to the GLIAC Tournament. GVSU is led by head coach Janel Burgess, who enters her fourth year in Allendale with a 54-32 overall record, good for a .628 winning percentage.

The Lakers return the 2009-10 GLIAC Freshman of the Year in sophomore center Alex Stelfox. During her freshman campaign, Stelfox led Grand Valley State in scoring (12.0 ppg.) and blocks (40) while leading the Lakers and finishing third in the conference by shooting 56.2 percent from the field. Her 40 rejections were the fourth-highest total in the GLIAC, tied for ninth-most in a single season in school history, and the most blocks at GVSU in six years.

Returning starting point guard Jasmine Padin joins Stelfox, as Padin has started all 58 games during her Laker career. Last season, Padin averaged 9.6 points per game and drained 51 three-pointers, while leading the team in assists (117) and steals (51). Seniors Elizabeth Van Tiflin (4.9 ppg., 5.0 rpg.) and Kara Crawford (5.1 ppg., 3.9 rpg.) each started 27 games last season for GVSU.

The Lakers also bring back a solid trio of sophomores that saw playing time last year, including twin sisters Briauna and Brittany Taylor. Briauna averaged 8.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field, 10th best in the league. Brittany scored 4.6 points and pulled down 3.1 rebounds per game, while shooting nearly 47 percent from the floor. Point guard Lauren Stodola was a solid back-up to Padin, as Stodola shot 42.9 percent from three-point range and totaled more assists (37) than turnovers (31) during her freshman season.

With a talented returning roster and a conference foe lurking close behind, Arkansas Tech is ranked No. 1 in the Women’s Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25.

The Golden Suns (31-3) welcome back four starters and nine letterwinners from last season’s Elite Eight squad that averaged nearly 80 points per game. Scoring will not be an issue this year for ATU, as nearly 87 percent of its scoring and 67 percent of the rebounding from last season is back. Senior All-American guard Jenny Vining (17.1 ppg, 3.8 apg) and the top-notch forward duo of Jessica Weatherford (12.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Natalia Santos (16.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg) lead the offense.

Ranked No. 2 is Delta State (27-4), which was a step away from the Elite Eight (falling to ATU) and returns its entire starting lineup and more than 70 points a game this year. 

Rounding out the top five are Tusculum, Holy Family, and West Texas A&M. The second five includes Indianapolis, UC San Diego, Lander, Alaska Anchorage and Bentley. 

Women’s Division II Bulletin has selected a preseason Top 25 every year since 1993.

The 2010 Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25:

1. Arkansas Tech

2. Delta St.

3. Tusculum

4. Holy Family

5. West Texas A&M

6. Indianapolis

7. UC San Diego

8. Lander

9. Alaska Anchorage

10. Bentley

11. Northeastern St.

12. California (Pa.)

13. Seattle Pacific

14. Wayne St. (Neb.)

15. Drury

16. Charleston

17. Chico St.

18. Fort Lewis

19. Washburn

20. Grand Valley St.

21. Pace

22. Barton

23. Emporia St.

24. West Liberty

25. Clayton St.

Others to watch: Carson-Newman, Concordia, Augustana, Findlay, So. Indiana, No. Kentucky, Wis. Parkside, Humboldt St., West. Washington, Grand Canyon, Bridgeport, Millersville, Indiana (Pa.), Fort Valley St., Benedict 
Women’s Division II Bulletin is published by GSR Communications, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary season of covering small college basketball. More information can be found at www.smallcollegehoops.com.
 

Celebrating our 20th season in 2010!
www.smallcollegehoops.com
Follow us on Twitter: @SmallColHoops

-30-

 

View: Mobile | Desktop