GLIAC - The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its 2019 All-GLIAC women's basketball teams. Awards were presented at the GLIAC Women's Basketball Tournament banquet Friday at Grand Valley State University.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Cassidy Boensch, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State junior center Cassidy Boensch (Au Gres, Mich.) led the Lakers to their first GLIAC regular season title since the 2005-06 season with her stellar all-around play. She was the league leader in 11 different categories, including points (20.3) and rebounds (12.2), as she averaged a double double throughout the season. She also led in blocks (92), defensive rebounds (244), total rebounds (342), and individual double doubles, completing the feat 20 times so far this season. She became just the third Laker in program history – and first since 2002 – to record a triple double when she scored 13 blocks, rejected 12 shots and pulled down 11 rebounds against Wayne State earlier this season. She was named the GLIAC Player of the Week four times throughout the season, including three straight weeks from February 4-18. Boensch ranks third nationally in double doubles, fifth in defensive rebounds, and eighth in total rebounds and blocked shots.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - Ellie Mackay - Michigan Tech
Ellie Mackay, a guard from Novi, Mich., has made a major impact for the Huskies in her first collegiate season. Mackay is firing in 9.7 points per game and is fifth in the GLIAC in three-point shooting percentage (41.7 percent) as the Huskies prepare to battle Ashland in the semifinals on Saturday. Mackay pulls in 2.9 rebounds and deals out 1.7 assists each time she takes the floor this season. She has played in all 29 games and has 19 starts in the stat sheet this year. Mackay dropped in a season/career high 18 points against Northwood on Dec. 1 and dialed in five treys against Saginaw Valley State on February 9.
COACH OF THE YEAR - Mike Williams, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State head coach Mike Williams has guided the Lakers to their first outright GLIAC regular season title since the 2005-06 season after they posted a 19-1 conference record to go with their 26-2 overall mark. Williams is taking home his first conference coach of the year award. In his first four seasons with the Lakers, Williams has amassed a 102-27 (.791) record, including a 66-17 (.795) mark against GLIAC opponents, and became the fastest coach in program history to surpass the 100-win mark. He has coached 14 All-GLIAC honorees, has made three consecutive GLIAC championship game appearances, and is on track to make his fourth straight NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance.
Below are the all-conference teams:
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2018-19 GLIAC Women's Basketball Postseason Awards & All-Conference Teams |
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Player of the Year |
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Freshman of the Year |
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Coach of the Year |
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2018-19 All-GLIAC First Team |
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Name |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Jodi Johnson | Ashland | Jr. | G/F | Wadsworth, Ohio |
| Cassidy Boensch | Grand Valley State | Jr. | C | Au Gres, Mich. |
| Jenn DeBoer | Grand Valley State | Jr. | G | Byron Center, Mich. |
| Sara Loomis | Ashland | Jr. | F | Malvern, Ohio |
| Renee Stimpert | Ashland | Jr. | G | Ashland, Ohio |
| Darby Youngstrom | Northern Michigan | Sr. | G | Cook, Minn. |
| Abbie Botz | Michigan Tech | Jr. | F | Little Chute, Wis. |
| Lexi Smith | Northern Michigan | So. | G/F | St. Germain, Wis. |
| Ellie Taylor | Northwood | So. | G | Midland, Mich. |
| Carolina Rahkonen | Parkside | Jr. | F | Espoo, Finland |
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2018-19 All-GLIAC Second Team |
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Name |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Maddie Dackin | Ashland | Sr. | G | Lima, Ohio |
| Elizabeth Kelliher | Michigan Tech | Sr. | F | Waukesha, Wis. |
| Natalie Koenig | Grand Valley State | Sr. | G | Wauseon, Ohio |
| Alexis Bush | Ferris State | Sr. | G | Caledonia, Mich. |
| Maddie Dailey | Grand Valley State | Jr. | F | Hastings, Mich. |
| Ja'Nae Williams | Wayne State | Sr. | G | Detroit, Mich. |
| Jessica Schultz | Northern Michigan | Jr. | F/C | Mineral Point, Wis. |
| Jenna Falkenberg | Davenport | Jr. | C | Saginaw, Mich. |
| Cassidy Trotter | Michigan Tech | So. | G | Beaver Dam, Wis. |
| Ali Bettencourt | Parkside | Gr. | G/F | El Dorado Hills, Cal. |
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2018-19 All-GLIAC Defensive Team |
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Name |
School |
Year |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Cassidy Boensch | Grand Valley State | Jr. | C | Au Gres, Mich. |
| Jodi Johnson | Ashland | Jr. | G | Wadworth, Ohio |
| Ja'Nae Williams | Wayne State | Sr. | G | Detroit, Mich. |
| Sara Loomis | Ashland | Jr. | F | Malvern, Ohio |
| Victoria Hedemark | Grand Valley State | Jr. | G | Dansville, Mich. |
| Maddie Dailey | Grand Valley State | Jr. | F | Hastings, Mich. |
| Taylor Stephen | Parkside | Jr. | G | Connersville, Ind. |
| Cassidy Trotter | Michigan Tech | So. | G | Beaver Dam, Wis. |
| Jessica Schultz | Northern Michigan | Jr. | F/C | Mineral Point, Wis. |
| Sydney Dillinger | Northern Michigan | Sr. | G | Houghton, Mich. |
