Oct. 28, 2009

Bay City, Mich. - Sophomore guards Jasmine Padin and Emma Veach were named to the 2009-10 Preseason All-GLIAC North Division Team, as released by the league offices on Wednesday (Oct. 28). The players earned the votes of the league's head coaches, while media members and the GLIAC sports information directors tabbed Grand Valley State to finish second in the North Division in 2009-10.

GVSU recorded a pair of first-place votes and 122 total points to finish second in the North Division to the preseason top-ranked team in the country, Michigan Tech. The Huskies received 22 first-place votes and 142 points, as they return all five starters to a team that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight last season. Ferris State (74 points) edged out Lake Superior State (72) for third place, while Northern Michigan (67), and Saginaw Valley State (27) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

In the South Division, Northwood garnered 16 first-place votes and 128 total points to finish just ahead of Hillsdale, which picked up seven first-place tallies and 125 points. Findlay received one first-place vote and 90 points, while Ashland (83), Wayne State (44), and Tiffin (34) rounded out the South Division.

Padin and Veach were joined on the Preseason North Division Team with Michigan Tech guard Sarah Stream and MTU forward Katie Wysocky and Lake Superior State guard Emily Joseph. Wysocky was named the GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year. In the South Division, Findlay guards Laura Bardall and Audra Mihalic and Hillsdale guards Brooke Knight and Janay Miller joined Northwood forward Jodi Ostergren to form the division's preseason team.

In 2008-09, Padin broke school records for three-pointers made (73) and attempted (208), while her 124 assists were 10th most in a single-season in GVSU history. The sophomore point guard also notched 12.6 points per game, placing her third on the team. Her 73 triples were the second most in the league, while her 2.0 steals per game were the fifth-best total. Padin finished 12th in the conference in scoring and made at least one three-pointer in 25 games.

Veach was the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2008-09 and named to the All-GLIAC Second Team. She is the Lakers' leading returning scorer, as she totaled 13.5 points per game and added 5.4 rebounds per contest. Veach ranked 11th in the league in scoring, 15th in assists, 16th in rebounding, and owned a 1.51 assist-to-turnover ratio. The sophomore shooting guard scored in double-figures in 23 games, while shooting .463 from the field and .769 at the charity stripe.

Grand Valley State plays two exhibition games before beginning its regular season at home against Drury on Nov. 16 at 7:00 p.m. The Lakers travel to Indiana on Nov. 5 for a 7:00 tip-off against the Hoosiers and battle Michigan State on Nov. 8 at 2:00 p.m.