KENOSHA, Wis. – The holiday break is over and GLIAC play is back for good as the Parkside women's basketball team opens the 2026 calendar with two key league tests, beginning with a New Year's Day home game against Roosevelt before a road trip to nationally ranked Ferris State. The Rangers (5-5, 0-2 GLIAC) will welcome the Lakers (1-8, 0-2 GLIAC) on Thursday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. CT inside De Simone Arena, then head to Big Rapids, Mich. for a Monday, Jan. 5 matchup with No. 23 Ferris State (8-3, 1-1 GLIAC) at 4:30 p.m. CT inside Jim Wink Arena.
Parkside enters the new year coming off a 15-day layoff, eager to build momentum after snapping a three-game losing streak in its last outing on Dec. 16 with an 81-72 win over Illinois Springfield. Junior Jaelyn Derlein delivered a career-high 18 points with six made 3-pointers, while junior Cassidy Arni poured in 23 points as the Rangers shot 48% from the floor, led wire-to-wire, and held UIS to just 6-of-18 from deep and 39% overall.
The Rangers' GLIAC slate began with a pair of close battles in early December, falling to then No. 17 Northern Michigan 56-48 on Dec. 4 before a 65-60 setback to Michigan Tech on Dec. 6. Parkside is one of four teams still searching for its first conference win, but the Rangers' profile has traveled well on the defensive end. Parkside owns the league's third-best scoring defense at 61.7 points allowed per game and the second-best opponent field-goal percentage at 37%. Offensively, the Rangers average 63.6 points per game, sixth-best in the GLIAC, and have been especially disruptive around the rim, leading the league at 4.8 blocks per game. The swing statistic heading back into conference play is ball security, as Parkside is turning it over 17.8 times per game with a -3.3 turnover margin.
Individually, Parkside's backcourt has driven much of its production. Sophomore guard Katie Hamill leads the Rangers at 14.6 points per game while shooting 43% from the field, and she has been elite at the free-throw line at 93% (25-for-27). Junior Cassidy Arni is right behind at 14.1 points per game on 46% shooting while adding 6.2 rebounds per contest. Junior Lillie Petersen has provided steady interior production at 9.4 points per game and a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game. At the controls, senior point guard Peighton Nelson has been the primary facilitator with 47 assists, averaging 4.7 per game through 10 contests and leading the entire GLIAC.
Thursday, Jan. 1
Parkside vs Roosevelt
1 p.m. CT | De Simone Arena | Kenosha, Wis.
Monday, Jan. 5
Parkside at No. 23 Ferris State
4:30 p.m. CT | Jim Wink Arena | Big Rapids, Mich.
SCOUTING ROOSEVELT:
Roosevelt comes to Kenosha at 1-8 overall and 0-2 in GLIAC play, with its conference losses also coming against Michigan Tech (64-48) on Dec. 4 and Northern Michigan (83-82) on Dec. 6. The Lakers are riding a five-game losing streak and last played on Saturday, Dec. 20, falling at home to Lewis 59-51 despite getting double-figure scoring from three different players. A fourth-quarter slump proved costly, as Roosevelt shot just 5-of-23 in the final period.
Overall, Roosevelt is averaging 57.9 points per game while allowing 67.3, shooting 34% from the floor and 25% from three. Three Lakers are averaging double figures: Isabella Pitta (13.0 points per game), Kelly Boyle (12.0), and Marie Outlay (11.8). Pitta has been a force on the glass at 9.6 rebounds per game and has added 12 blocks (1.3 per game). Boyle and Outlay have carried heavy workloads, averaging 35.8 and 35.7 minutes per game, respectively, while Outlay has also been one of the league's most disruptive defenders with 32 steals, averaging 3.6 per contest. Roosevelt was picked eighth in the GLIAC preseason coaches' poll and is led by fourth-year head coach Deon Thomas, with no Lakers earning preseason all-conference honors.
Parkside is 2-0 all-time against Roosevelt after the Lakers joined Division II and the GLIAC last season. The Rangers won the first meeting in Kenosha on Jan. 6, 72-46, with four Rangers in double figures, then completed the sweep in Chicago on Feb. 6, 72-62, behind 15 points from Nelson on seven made field goals.
SCOUTING NO. 23 FERRIS STATE:
Ferris State enters the week at 8-3 overall and 1-1 in GLIAC play after opening conference action with a 97-43 road win at Purdue Northwest on Dec. 4 before falling 84-71 at Wayne State on Dec. 6. The Bulldogs are coming off a 1-1 trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, where they dropped a 68-54 decision to No. 9 West Texas A&M on Dec. 18, then rebounded with a 65-59 win over Alaska Anchorage on Dec. 20. In the win over Anchorage, Ferris State capitalized on 21 turnovers, scored 36 points in the paint, and got 11 points from Emma Schierbeek. The Bulldogs will host Roosevelt on Saturday, Jan. 3 before welcoming Parkside to Big Rapids on Monday.
Ferris State has been one of the league's most explosive and well-rounded teams, averaging 76.8 points per game while allowing 65.8. The Bulldogs lead the GLIAC in assists at 17.7 per game, lead the league and rank among the best nationally in free-throw percentage at 83%, and also sit near the top of the conference on the glass at 41.4 rebounds per game. Ferris State's offense is built to stretch defenses, with 95 made 3-pointers this season, averaging 8.6 per game, while shooting 29% from deep. The Bulldogs feature multiple scoring options, led by Mia Riley at 14.5 points per game. Riley has also been outstanding at the stripe at 88% (58-for-66) and has made more free throws than any player in the GLIAC so far this season. Kadyn Blanchard adds 14.1 points per game while serving as a key playmaker, averaging 4.0 assists per contest.
Parkside is 8-14 all-time against Ferris State and has dropped three straight meetings, including both matchups last season (75-69 in Kenosha on Jan. 16 and 85-76 in Big Rapids on Feb. 22). The Rangers are just 2-9 all-time in Big Rapids, with their last win inside Jim Wink Arena coming on Jan. 14, 2023. Parkside has lost four of the last five to the Bulldogs, but the last 10 meetings have been evenly split at five wins apiece.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Following the New Year swing, Parkside returns home for two more GLIAC contests next week, hosting Lake Superior State on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 5:30 p.m. CT before welcoming Saginaw Valley State on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. CT inside De Simone Arena.
To keep up with all things Rangers, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
