#2 GLIAC NORTH - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS (20-8 OVERALL, 16-6 GLIAC)
2015-16 Grand Valley State Women's Basketball Preview
Building off a 2014-15 campaign in which the team went 20-8 and advanced to the semifinals of the GLIAC Tournament, the Grand Valley State women’s basketball team returns four starters and 10 letterwinners for the first season with new head coach Mike Williams at the helm.
Williams re-joins the Lakers after a four year career as head coach at Davenport, where he compiled a 130-11 record. His 2014-15 Davenport squad led the nation in points allowed per game (48.5) and scoring margin (+31.5). Williams had previously served as assistant coach under then GVSU head coach Dawn Plitzuweit for five seasons, including the 2005-06 season in which the Lakers went 33-3 and won the Division II National Championship.
A strong core of four upperclassmen starters will anchor the Laker this season, led by all around threat Brionna Barnett, a senior, who led the team in scoring (15.8 ppg) and assists (95) last season. Junior forwards Kayla Dawson and Piper Tucker scored 12.4 and 9.5 ppg, respectively, for the Lakers, and also were the team’s top two rebounders with 5.6 and 5.3 rebounds per game. Taylor Lutz figures to be a key distributor for the Lakers as a returning starter, and will build off her 70 assists last season. Key reserves from last season Janae Langs and Jammie Botruff should play a big part for the Lakers this season, and the return of Bailey Cairnduff, redshirted last season, should provide a boost as well on offense.