GOOD TIMES ARE A’COMIN’

The Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team logged plenty of miles over the holiday break with a trip to Florida and a pair of conference road games, and at the end of it all, the Lakers are on their first winning streak of the season.

On Saturday, GVSU (7-7, 4-3 GLIAC) traveled to Lake Superior State University and picked up its third straight GLIAC win.

GVL Archive Photo

“I’m really proud,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “We moved the ball, shot the ball well and everyone bought in. It’s what we’ve so desperately been waiting for.”

The Lakers used long range shooting in the form of eight 3-pointers to sink Lake Superior State University (5-8, 1-5 GLIAC), 74-53.

Forwards Kellie Watson and Briauna Taylor paced the offense from beyond arc, knocking down seven triples between them and adding 16 and 19 points, respectively.

Junior Alex Stelfox, who sunk a buzzer-beating layup in the team’s 50-48 win at Saginaw Valley State University on Thursday, said the Lakers have been working on shooting and moving the ball in practice, which are important elements to maintain a balance on offense.

Senior forward Kara Crawford complimented GVSU’s long range shooting by chipping in with 13 points and six rebounds against Lake Superior State.

“We’ve worked really hard and I think we’re finally in the right mindset,” she said. “As a fifth-year, I couldn’t be more proud of our defensive effort. The games we lost were probably because shots weren’t falling, but now everything is starting to click.”

In Thursday’s game at Saginaw Valley State University (3-10, 1-5 GLIAC), GVSU pulled out a thrilling come from behind victory, capped off by Stelfox late game heroics.

The Lakers overcame a 10-point second-half deficit behind strong defense from Crawford and sophomore guard Breanna Kellogg.

“That was the first buzzer beater I have ever had,” said Stelfox. “The play wasn’t even meant for me, it was supposed to go to Briauna Taylor, but I was open and Kellie Watson gave me the ball. I put a hook shot and it took forever to go down, but I’m glad it did because I didn’t want to go to overtime.”

Prior to the New Year, GVSU defeated defending GLIAC and Midwest Regional Champions and then-No. 7 Michigan Technological University (9-3, 4-2 GLIAC) for the first time in five years.

“It meant a lot to beat Tech, it was a turning point for us,” Crawford said. “I’ve been here for five years and never beat them. That was probably the best game we’ve played all season and it was nice to get a win because we’ve been close so many times.”

Following the marquee victory over the Huskies, GVSU traveled to Florida to take on Florida Southern University (10-4) and the University of Tampa.

Briauna Taylor led the way in both contests in the sunshine state, scoring 22 points against Florida Southern
and 14 against Tampa (7-5). Despite Taylor’s efforts, GVSU lost both contests.

The Lakers will challenge Northwood University on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Fieldhouse Arena.

Taylor leads Lakers to first road win

After four lost opportunities, the Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team earned its first road victory of the season Saturday in a 69-63 victory over Tiffin University.

“We’ve been through some adversity, there’s no doubt about it,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “To get a road win in the fashion that we did was very important. The kids were tough, they fought through the entire 40 minutes of the game, played great defense and were really relentless down the stretch even when Tiffin continued to make a push at us.”

The victory comes just two days after GVSU (3-3, 1-1 GLIAC) let a 22-point first-half lead slip away in a 79-56 loss at Ohio Dominican University (5-1, 1-1 GLIAC).

GVL Archive Photo

“On Thursday, what it came down to was we weren’t getting defensive stops,” said junior guard Lauren Stadola. “On Friday in practice and in our shoot-around we really worked on defense.”

In the loss against the Panthers, Stodola led the Lakers with 18 points and three rebounds while junior forward Brittany Taylor chipped in with 12 points and six rebounds.

Saturday proved to be a new day for the Lakers, who defeated Tiffin University 69-63, en route to GVSU’s first road and first conference victory of the season.

“Our focus was really on getting defensive stops because we know that’s how we have to win on the road in the GLIAC,” Stodola said. “It feels good that everyone did their part and we were successful together. We bounced back after hitting some adversity so hopefully we can keep it going now.”

Despite trailing the Dragons (4-1, 1-1 GLIAC) by three points at the half, GVSU found a way to pull off a victory behind the play of junior forward Briauna Taylor.

“I wasn’t really happy with how I have played,” she said. “So (Saturday) I wanted to go out and just play and have fun with it.”

Taylor, who has struggled on the offensive end as of late, only scoring six points in GVSU’s previous two contests, exploded with a game-high 25 points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Although Taylor’s 25 points led a Laker offense, which shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half, junior center Alex Stelfox also contributed with 15 points and eight rebounds.

“We moved the ball really well offensively,” Burgess said. “We were selfless. We had 17 assists and were willing to make the extra pass to get somebody an open shot.”

The Lakers took control of the game at the 17:26 mark and never looked back when Briauna Taylor and Stodola came up with back-to-back steals that were converted into baskets.

“We didn’t want to drop two games in Ohio to start the GLIAC, so we just worked from the Ohio Dominican game to come back and get a win,” Taylor said. “This was probably our best offensive game of the year.”

The Lakers will return to action at 6 p.m. on Wednesday when they travel to Northwood University.

SHORT STATURE BIG GAME

Courtesy of Robert Mathews

Her name may be etched in Grand Valley State University women’s basketball record books now, but senior Jasmine Padin’s first encounter with sports began in a boxing ring, not on a basketball court.

Padin, a native of Wyoming, Mich., took on boxing for four years before her older brother, Jose Padin, sparked her curiosity in basketball.

“One day my brother picked up a basketball, and I saw him playing in the park,” Padin said. “I was like, ‘Hey what is that?’ He honestly taught me the game of basketball, and I fell in love with it.”

Although GVSU’s 5-foot-2 point guard gave up boxing to pursue the game of basketball, boxing principles came in handy when she had to “fight” to prove she could play basketball beyond high school.

“I’ve kind of embraced my shortness — it was nothing I could change, so it allowed me to be more motivated,” she said. “People would tell me that I’m too little or I’m too short, and I’m never going to play basketball at a high level, but I never saw my height as an issue. I saw it as a benefit.”

Padin even had to prove herself to GVSU head coach Janel Burgess, who said she was initially hesitant to recruit Padin but decided to give her a chance to suit up for the Lakers.

Now in her fourth season as a GVSU starter, Padin has put to bed any doubts Burgess may have had. In 90 games, Padin has left her mark on GVSU basketball history, ranking second in all-time free-throw percentage, third in all-time 3-pointers made and fifth in all-time career assists.

But with all of her offensive accomplishments at GVSU, Burgess said it’s Padin’s defensive prowess that makes her a special player.

“What makes her good is her ability to be a defensive gnat, a defensive anchor on the full-court,” she said. “And her ability to be able to be a strong point guard, offensively run the show and make her teammates better. She can also hit a deep three and alleviate pressure on the inside.”

Padin’s teammates, on the other hand, look to her for her knowledge and commitment to the game.

“From a coaches perspective, she is probably the perfect point guard,” said senior forward Kara Crawford. “Because she’s a senior now, she has a lot of knowledge, and I think that Coach can trust her. A lot of times Coach doesn’t have to call a play because Jasmine already has one in mind.”

In her last season with the GVSU, Padin said her goal is to have a successful year and embrace her opportunities with her teammates.

“Of course, everyone wants to win the big one,” she said. “To be GLIAC season champs and be tournament champs, and hopefully win a national championship. As far as my senior season goes, I want us to be successful on the court, but at the same time, I just want to build friendships with my teammates, which I have done since I’ve been here.”

Lakers win, lose over Thanksgiving holiday

After a disappointing loss in their season opener, junior center Alex Stelfox and the Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team had no problem finishing shots on Tuesday against Aquinas College.

Behind an 18-point outburst from Stelfox and strong play from guards Lauren Stodola and Jasmine Padin, the Lakers (2-1) defeated the Saints 75-47.

Courtesy of Robert Matthews

“We needed this win pretty bad,” said Stelfox, who shot 75 percent from the field and grabbed four rebounds. “That first game wasn’t how we normally play, so we had to focus in practice, and this gets our confidence up again.”

On the offensive end, the Lakers found the bottom of the net early and often with 10 different players scoring on the night. Padin and Stodola lead the charge in distributing the ball, combining for eight assists and two steals.

“I loved how our point guards were kicking the ball ahead,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “I mean look at Jasmine, five assists and one turnover and Lauren Stodola having three assists and one turnover. Those are all good signs to build and progress on as we head into Wisconsin Parkside.”

The Laker bench also played a pivotal role in the win, accounting for almost a quarter of GVSU’s offensive output.

“So many kids got some great opportunities,” Burgess said. “It was great to see Kellie Watson come in and play some good minutes and have some open shots go in.”

Defensively, GVSU used its size and tenacity to limit Aquinas to six field goals and 16 points in first half.
Burgess said the effort on the defensive end was solid in large part due to the rotation on help defense and the team’s ability to minimize fouls early.

On Saturday, GVSU was unable to earn its first road victory of the season, falling to the University of Wisconsin Parkside (4-1) by a score of 60-73.

“It was a tough environment to play in, but we had the opportunity to be successful,” Burgess said. “We had some key possessions that we did not go finish.”

Watson, who scored a game-high 16 points off the bench, gave GVSU a one-point advantage when she connected on a long range shot to close out the first half.

“Coming out of the locker room we knew we had to keep the lead and keep up the intensity,” Watson said. “As the half went on we just ran into a couple breakdowns that we have to clean up.”

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, but four GVSU turnovers in last three minutes of the game stretched a four-point deficit into a 13-point loss.

“We’re going to have to learn some things from that cause you got to be able finish a game in the last two and a half minutes,” Burgess said. “We have to take care of the ball down the stretch and we have to quit fouling so much. You can’t send a team to the line 30 times and expect to be successful.”

The Lakers will be back in action at 6 p.m. today as they take on Urbana University in the Fieldhouse Arena.

Two years later, Watson looks to help Lakers

The game of basketball is not often associated with a roller coaster, but sophomore forward Kellie Watson’s journey to get back on the court with the Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team has had its ups and downs so far.

Courtesy of Matt Cashore

Coming out of high school in 2008, Watson was named Miss Basketball, an award given annually to the top high school basketball player in Michigan.

After receiving the award, Watson accepted an athletic scholarship to play at the University of Notre Dame, and she sensed her best playing days were ahead of her.

“I was really excited that I had the opportunity to sign with one of the top Division I programs in the country,” she said. “There was really no other reason for me to be anything but excited to start in the summer and see what Division I basketball was really all about.”

In her first season with the Fighting Irish, Watson appeared in all 31 games and was second on the team three-point field goals with 28.

“My freshman year I had great opportunities,” she said. “My whole class had a lot of opportunities to play because there were some injuries to upperclassmen that really opened the window for us.”

With her first season behind her, Watson looked to be a mainstay in South Bend, but an early season knee injury and recurring shoulder injuries, which began in high school, forced her to sit out almost the entirety of her sophomore season.

While Watson was on the mend, she began to evaluate her future and decided transferring to GVSU would be a better path to take.

“The physicality of the Big East was getting to be a lot for my body to handle,” she said. “I already had three shoulder surgeries at that point, and I was just coming off of surgery on my knee. I think I just realized [Notre Dame] wasn’t right, it wasn’t the place that was the best for me.”

Upon arriving at GVSU in 2009, Watson could practice with the Lakers, but NCAA transfer rules prevented her from competing in games until the following season.

Watson suffered another setback when she dislocated her shoulder the day before GVSU took part in its annual season-opening exhibition game at Michigan State University, forcing her take a medical redshirt and sit out the 2010-2011 season.

Watson said the injuries and not being able to go out and compete for two full years was as frustrating beyond words, but all the experiences taught her how much she loved basketball and to appreciate the small things in life.

“You never know when your last game is going to be, you never know when your last play is going to be,” she said. “So you just have to out there and give everything you’ve got all time.”

Watson’s determination and competitive spirit are a welcome sight for the Lakers during the 2011-12 season.

“She’s worked very hard to be able to play still,” said junior guard Lauren Stodola. “She’s gone through so many injuries that could’ve stopped anyone’s career, but she loves the game and just wants to play.”

Despite her playing status being unknown after another shoulder injury this season, the former Gatorade Player of the Year brings with her the experience of playing Division I basketball.

“She’s played at a very high level and she’s been successful,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess “We just ask that she brings a competitive edge and helps improve our team from top to bottom."

Turnovers sink Lakers in season opener

The Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team put on a rebounding clinic in their season opener, but that wasn’t enough to stop Saint Joseph College.

The Lakers, who fell to the Pumas 66-47, struggled from the get go on Sunday, shooting 29 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the foul line.

“Overall, I think it was just a lack of focus,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “Our team needs to play a 40-minute game. As seasoned as we are, we need to be able to persevere through any situation and be able to find a way to be successful.”

Despite its shooting woes, GVSU used strong rebounding on both sides of the floor to cut Saint Joseph’s lead from double digits down to five at the half.

“We rebounded very well,” said Burgess. “The problem is if we rebounded as well as we did, we should be able to convert and I don’t think we did that.”

Throughout the contest the Lakers (0-1, 0-0), out-rebounded the Puma’s (1-0, 0-0) 53-34.

However, turnovers and fouls prevented the Lakers from developing an offensive rhythm and delivering the ball inside to junior center Alex Stelfox.

“The turnovers were really atrocious, 24 turnovers to eight assists, I don’t think we were making good decisions,” said Burgess. “We were leading teammates into turnovers themselves, not being strong with the ball going at the basket. We need to be able to protect each other and be able to be disciplined with what we are trying to find.”

While Stelfox was held scoreless in the opening half, juniors Brittany and Briauna Taylor combined for 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead GVSU at the break.

“I was just trying to do what I could to get a better outcome for us and finish some possessions,” said forward Brittany Taylor.

Coming out of the locker room, the Lakers got solid looks at the basket and went to the free-throw line 17 times, but still struggled to score.

“We will look at a handful of our shots and think that they were crazy, maybe quick shots or what not, but for the most part our opportunities were good,” said Burgess. “I think there were more opportunities that we should have took at first look as opposed to making an extra pass that created a turnover.”

Forward Briauna Taylor said this loss will serve as a learning experience and motivation to work hard in practice to take better care of the ball and take more efficient shots when they are available.

“We just need to take the pressure for what it is,” she said. “They were pressuring us, but we just need to calm down because we know what we need to do.”

The Lakers will open up their home schedule on Nov. 22 when they face Aquinas College at 7.pm.

Experience leads Lakers into season

GVL Archive Photo

With a roster featuring a pair of Division II honorable mention All-Americans, a Division I transfer and the return of a fifth-year senior, the Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team this season will be full of an element that it has somewhat lacked in previous seasons: experience.

After advancing to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, the Lakers welcome back 13 players and hope to be in contention for a GLIAC Championship and a return to postseason action.

“We have huge goals at the end of the season, but if we’re going to accomplish those goals we can’t let a slip up happen early in the season,” said senior forward Kara Crawford. “We really have to stay focused and maintain our confidence and consistency.”

This year’s team features a balanced offense that includes honorable mention All-Americans in junior forward Briauna Taylor on the perimeter and junior center Alex Stelfox in the paint.

“We have a nice inside and outside balance,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “We’ve got Alex Stelfox, Brittany Taylor, Kellie Watson and Kara Crawford, all inside presence kids for us that will be able to help us get the ball in the low post. But I think we’ve also got a great balance on the outside.”

Not only will GVSU utilize a mix a of interior play and outside shooting, but it also welcomes back Crawford, who sat out last season with a knee injury, and sophomore Kelly Watson, who is in her first season of competition with the Lakers after transferring from the University of Notre Dame.

Watson, who played in all 31 games as a freshman for the Fighting Irish and was named Miss Basketball of Michigan in 2008, will add to the team’s offensive versatility.

“It’s good to see her get out and get into a flow,” Burgess said. “Kellie’s a great shooter and a great passer that will give us some diversity on the outside and the inside.”

Knowing she can contribute to the team in a variety of ways, Watson is working to fit into her role of distributing the ball and shooting.

“All summer I worked really hard because I knew coming that they were going to look to me to try to bring a little bit of outside shooting,” she said. “Passing-wise, it’s just hitting my open teammates. I know our post players work really hard down low, bashing around trying to get open so we can get them the ball.”

The return of Crawford will give GVSU added leadership and a sense of urgency out on the floor.

“Crawford has just got that little edge on her,” Burgess said. “This is her fifth year and I think she will be our blue-collar hard worker at will … she will just give us that gritty edge that we need from the senior position.”

The Lakers will open up the regular season Sunday against St. Joseph’s College at 2 p.m. in Indiana.

Carreri courts Crawford

Senior athlete's engaged -- 

Originally, Grand Valley State University seniors Tony Carreri and Kara Crawford came to campus to play football and women’s basketball for the Lakers, but their individual decisions to play co-ed intramural softball changed their lives forever.

Carrari, a senior tight end on the football team, and Crawford, a senior forward on the women’s basketball team, first met on a softball field in 2008 while playing on a team with mutual friends.

Courtesy of Eric Coulter

After a few years of getting to know each other, it became apparent that their competitive yet caring nature was a compliment to who they are as individuals and as a couple, so Carreri decided to propose.

“The big thing for me was I wanted it to be surprise. I didn’t want her to see it coming, [and] I didn’t want her to expect it,” he said. “It wasn’t going to be a Friday night, awkward real nice dinner, rings in the dessert type deal.”

For two people who have a shared appreciation for athletics, it was fitting that Carreri decided to incorporate sports into the proposal. Last fall, he arranged for Crawford’s parents and grandmother to come to Allendale for a GVSU football game, where he had plans to drop down on one knee, outside of Lubbers stadium at the conclusion of his game.

Crawford didn’t suspect a thing.

As the couple prepares for their wedding in July, they were quick to point out that the GVSU Athletics has played a vital role in their relationship and their ability to understand each other.

“Neither of us would’ve been at Grand Valley if it wasn’t for our respective sports,” Carreri said.

Carreri and Crawford said sports are just a part of who they are, and competing for GVSU has helped create a mutual understanding for their commitment toward sports and other things that are important to them.

Carreri’s brother, Nick, said common personality traits such as being outgoing, responsible and having the ability to relate to each other are a few qualities that have helped shape their relationship.

The ability to relate to each other was especially evident when both athletes were trying to recover from knee injuries, Carreri’s in 2009 and Crawford’s in 2010.

Courtesy of Eric Coulter

“When each of them was injured, the other knew what to do and what they were going through,” Nick Carreri said. “The best person they could turn to was the person they were with the most, so I think that really helped because they didn’t need anyone else, they could just turn to each other.“

As seniors this season, they both bring experience, leadership and passion to their respective teams. They also hope to teach younger teammates how to carry on the tradition that comes along with Laker athletics.

“Tony and I are thankful for our experiences at Grand Valley that we’ve had with our sports teams,” Crawford said. “It’s kind of a tight-knit community and I think if Grand Valley wasn’t so neat in that way we never would’ve met.”