The Grand Valley State women's basketball team was picked to win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) South Division by the conference coaches, per a release from the league office on Thursday. (Oct. 24). Senior center Cassidy Boensch was named GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year and senior guard Jenn DeBoer was selected to the GLIAC South Division Preseason All-Conference Team.
 
Complete GLIAC Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team
 
Last season the Lakers posted the second-highest win total in school history as they finished 29-4 en route to a GLIAC Regular Season Championship. GVSU earned its fourth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament as the 3 seed in the Midwest Region and won games over #6 seed Truman State and #2 seed Lewis before falling in the Regional Championship game to #1 ranked and undefeated Drury 51-44.
 
This season's team brings back four returning senior starters from last year including GLIAC Player of the Year and All-Midwest Region 1st Team honoree, Cassidy Boensch. The Au Gres, Mich. native averaged a double-double with 19.4 points per game, 11.6 rebounds per game, and also added 3.09 blocks per game to anchor the front court. Senior guard Jenn DeBoer (1st Team All-GLIAC, 2nd Team All-Midwest Region) and senior forward Maddie Dailey (2nd Team ALL-GLIAC, All-Defensive) averaged 13.9 and 11.1 points per game respectively, while senior guard Victoria Hedemark (All-GLIAC Defensive) averaged 7.8 points per game and recorded 71 steals.
 
Senior Taryn Taugher, a graduate transfer from Northern Kentucky, will look to make an impact in her final collegiate season after playing in 82 games including 21 starts for the Norsemen in three seasons. Senior guard Taya Andrews returns after playing in all 33 games last year while shooting 44.9% from behind the arc. Additionally, senior guard Jenai LaPorte and sophomore guard Emily Spitzley also return and will provide depth in the backcourt.
 
A trio of freshman, Daisy Ansel, Haley Swing, and Courtney Sharland, are the only other newcomers for the Lakers outside Taugher.
 
GVSU will travel to St. Louis, Missouri to begin the 2019-20 campaign and take on University of Missouri-St. Louis on Friday, November 8 at 2:00 P.M. ET before playing Maryville University the following day at 2:00 P.M ET. The Lakers home opener is set for Sunday, November 17 against Lewis at 1:00 P.M.