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GLIAC -- The Saginaw Valley State University Women's Basketball team has been picked to finish in sixth place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) South Division in the 2019-20 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Cardinals received 16 points, which is four behind fifth place Davenport in the South. Grand Valley State was tabbed as the South Division favorite, collecting 61 points and 11 first-place votes. Ashland is second with 51 points and the other first-place nod. Michigan Tech was chosen as the favorite in the North Division with 58 points and eight first-place votes. Fellow U.P. school, Northern Michigan, is second with 53 points and four first-place tallies.
2019-20 GLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
North Division
- Michigan Tech - 58 (8)
- Northern Michigan - 53 (4)
- Ferris State - 40
- Parkside - 32
- Lake Superior State - 19
- Purdue Northwest
South Division
- Grand Valley State - 61 (11)
- Ashland - 51 (1)
- Northwood - 38
- Wayne State - 30
- Davenport - 20
- Saginaw Valley State - 16
Saginaw Valley State University Preview
A new era of SVSU Women's Basketball comes for the 2019-20 season, as first year head coach Jenny Pruett takes over at the head of the program and looks to improve upon a 2018-19 campaign where the Cardinals went 6-21 overall and 6-14 in the GLIAC. Pruett welcomes back 10 returners from last year's squad and five newcomers who will look to contribute right away.
Three of the top-five scorers return for the Cards, including sophomore guards Maddie Barrie and Maddie Maloney. Barrie is the leading scorer among returners, averaging 10.8 ppg last season. Aaliah Hill, who played half of the season after transferring from CMU, scored at a 9.5 ppg clip and grabbed 7.1 rpg from the forward position. Maloney returns to run the point after averaging 7.4 ppg and leading the team with 3.4 apg last year in her 30.7 minutes per game.
Saginaw Valley begins its season with eight regional games before opening GLIAC play Dec. 5-7 at Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan. The season officially gets underway on Nov. 8 at Hillsdale before playing at Findlay on Nov. 10.