KENOSHA, Wis. — The Parkside women's basketball team begins its first set of GLIAC rematches this week with a two-game road trip, opening Thursday, Jan. 29, at 4:30 p.m. CT in University Center, Michigan, against Saginaw Valley State inside James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena before heading north to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, for a Saturday, Jan. 31, noon CT matchup at Lake Superior State inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
Parkside enters the week 9-9 overall and 4-6 in GLIAC play, good for sole possession of sixth place in the conference standings. The Rangers are coming off a 1-1 league weekend at home, falling Thursday to the No. 1 team in the nation, Grand Valley State, 66-47, before responding with an 18-point win over Davenport on Saturday, 76-58.
Through 18 games, Parkside's profile has been defined by balance on both ends and defense that travels. The Rangers are scoring 70.3 points per game while allowing 65.2, a +5.2 scoring margin, and they are shooting 42.8% from the field while holding opponents to 38.2%. Parkside has paired that efficiency with strong ball movement (15.9 assists per game) and a consistent ability to protect the rim, totaling 82 blocks (4.6 per game), while also staying active in passing lanes at 8.4 steals per game.
The recent stretch has shown how high Parkside's ceiling can be when the offense and defense connect. The Rangers have delivered two of their most complete performances of the season since the calendar flipped to January, earning a 90-60 win over Lake Superior State on Jan. 8 and a 92-46 win at Purdue Northwest on Jan. 17. In their most recent outing, Parkside's response after the Grand Valley loss showed the same identity: the Rangers scored 76 against Davenport while holding the Panthers to 58.
Individually, Parkside has been led by a core that impacts multiple categories. Katie Hamill has paced the Rangers at 15.4 points per game while shooting 43.5% from the floor and 93.6% at the free-throw line, and she has also been one of the conference's top perimeter disruptors with 40 steals. Cassidy Arni has added 13.6 points per game on 47.0% shooting, giving Parkside a second consistent scoring option. Lillie Petersen has anchored the glass at 7.5 rebounds per game while also averaging 10.4 points, and Peighton Nelson has been the engine as a facilitator, totaling 88 assists (4.9 per game) to lead the league while coming off a nine-assist performance against Davenport.
Thursday, Jan. 29
Parkside at Saginaw Valley State
4:30 P.M. CT | James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena | University Center, Mich.
Saturday, Jan. 31
Parkside at Lake Superior State
12 P.M. CT | Bud Cooper Gymnasium | Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
SCOUTING SAGINAW VALLEY STATE:
Parkside and Saginaw Valley State meet for the second time this month after the Rangers earned a 79-66 win over the Cardinals in Kenosha on Jan. 10. In that first meeting, Parkside put five players in double figures and Jaelyn Derlein led the way with a career-high 20 points.
The Cardinals enter Thursday 4-14 overall and 2-8 in GLIAC play, and they have been fighting uphill margins throughout the season. They are coming off a loss on Monday to Ferris State, which was their sixth straight. SVSU is scoring 58.7 points per game while allowing 69.7, a -11.0 scoring margin, and the Cardinals have struggled to win the possession battle, averaging 19.4 turnovers per game. Even so, SVSU has disruptive elements that can swing stretches of games, averaging 8.4 steals per game and 3.0 blocks per game.
Individually, the Cardinals are built around high-activity defenders and a two-guard scoring core. Megan McCalla leads SVSU in scoring at 14.4 points per game. Lydia Meredith continues to drive the Cardinals' pressure, producing 61 steals (3.8 per game) while also averaging 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds, and she has added 62 assists. Lauren Borsenik has been one of the league's most impactful rim protectors, shooting 52.4% from the field while totaling 25 blocks (1.5 per game).
This is the 19th meeting between Parkside and Saginaw Valley State. Parkside has won the last four meetings, but all four of its losses to the Cardinals have come on the road, with the most recent coming on Jan. 4, 2024, 69-49. In the last 10 meetings, Parkside is 8-2 against SVSU and 10-3 since joining the GLIAC. The first meeting between the two programs came in 2009.
SCOUTING LAKE SUPERIOR STATE:
Saturday's matchup in Sault Ste. Marie is the second meeting of the season between Parkside and Lake Superior State after the Rangers delivered a dominant 90-60 win in Kenosha on Jan. 8. Parkside put five players in double figures in that win, and Lexi Bugajski led the Rangers with a career-high 15 points as Parkside picked up its first GLIAC win of the season.
Lake Superior State enters the week 5-13 overall and 2-8 in GLIAC play. The Lakers have been far more comfortable away from home than inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium this season, going 4-4 on the road compared to 1-9 at home. LSSU went 1-1 last weekend, beating Saginaw Valley State 79-73 on the road on Thursday before falling at Ferris State 90-59 on Saturday.
Statistically, the Lakers have had to navigate negative margins. LSSU is scoring 62.6 points per game while allowing 73.3, a -10.7 scoring margin, and turnovers have been a season-long storyline at 19.2 per game with a -5.1 turnover margin. The Lakers have rebounded well (37.1 per game) and have generated interior defense with 3.6 blocks per game, but they have often had to battle through giveaways and defensive breakdowns that create separation for opponents.
Grace Bradford is the centerpiece and one of the most productive frontcourt players in the league. She is averaging 14.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, including 178 total rebounds and 137 on the defensive glass, and she has been a consistent double-double threat. Dara Capaldi has been an efficient secondary scorer at 11.6 points per game on 49.3% shooting, while Seyyane Matthew provides two-way impact on the interior, including 22 blocks.
This is the 22nd meeting between the programs, and Parkside has historically dominated the series, owning a 20-1 all-time record against the Lakers and a perfect 15-0 mark since joining the GLIAC. Parkside has won 16 straight in the matchup, and the last 12 meetings between the teams have all been double-digit Ranger victories. The lone Parkside loss in the series came on the road on Nov. 16, 2008 (77-56).
LOOKING AHEAD:
Following the road weekend, Parkside has a split week next week, traveling to Roosevelt on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 5 p.m. CT before returning home to host Ferris State on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m. CT.
To keep up with the Rangers, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
