BAY CITY, Mich. — The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced its 2025-26 Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, with Parkside selected to finish fourth following a fifth-place finish in league play last season. Head coach Jen Conely's squad returns a strong nucleus of experienced players, along with several impact newcomers ready to make a difference this season.
Parkside returns three key starters in Cassidy Arni, Peighton Nelson, and Lillie Petersen — all of whom started all 28 games last season for the Rangers.
Arni, the 2023-24 GLIAC Freshman of the Year and a First Team All-GLIAC selection in 2024-25, led the team with 14.1 points per game while shooting just under 50 percent from the floor. She also averaged 5.9 rebounds per game and recorded 41 steals. Arni posted a career-high 36 points against Minnesota Duluth on November 18, 2024, and tallied three double-doubles on the season.
Peterson, a junior, has started every game since arriving at Parkside in 2023. She averaged 8.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season, while also recording three double-doubles.
Nelson, entering her senior season, was one of the Rangers' most dependable players a year ago. She averaged 9.2 points per game, ranked second on the team in total minutes played, and was second on the team with 87 assists. The 2021-22 GMAC Freshman of the Year provides leadership and stability in the Parkside backcourt, bringing valuable experience and consistency on both ends of the floor.
Other key returners include Jaelyn Derlein and Alli Hampel, who each appeared in over 20 games last season, along with guards Brooklyn Ficek and Elyse Wendler, who add valuable experience and depth to the lineup.
Conely and her staff have also added an exciting group of newcomers to the roster. Transfer guard Katie Hamill joins the Rangers after an impressive freshman season at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where she was named Third Team All-GLVC and earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Hamill averaged 11.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while scoring in double figures 17 times and recording two double-doubles.
The Rangers also welcome two Division I transfers — Kiyah Hurst (North Dakota) and Lexi Bugajski (Wright State) — both of whom bring size, athleticism, and versatility to the Parkside frontcourt.
Additionally, Parkside adds a talented freshman class featuring Harley Wock, Emily Giese, Samantha Hafferkamp, Addison Stallings, and Sara Abdul, all expected to compete for playing time this season.
Parkside opens its 2025-26 campaign on October 31 at the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The Rangers will face the host Simon Fraser University in their season opener at 7:45 p.m. Central Time.
