October 28, 2009 - Coming off the finest season in school history, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team is reloaded and ready for competition in the 2009-10 season.

The Chargers, two-time defending GLIAC South Division champions, were picked to finish second in the division in the conference's preseason poll, released Wednesday morning.

Northwood was picked by a panel of media members to win the South Division with 16 first-place votes. The Chargers received seven to land in second place. Findlay was picked to finish third in the poll.

In addition to the division poll, media members also selected a preseason All-GLIAC South Division team. Charger senior guards Brooke Knight and Janay Miller were both selected to the team.

Knight and Miller are coming off their best seasons in helping to lead the Chargers to a 27-4 record in 2008-09. They were both named to the GLIAC All-Tournament Team, helping Hillsdale to win the conference tournament back on March 7.

Knight set the school's single-season assists record last year with 196, and is considered among the top point guards in the conference. Miller is Hillsdale's leading returning scorer from a year ago.

Last year, the Chargers were ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation and featured the Division II National Player of the Year, Katie Cezat. She is one of three graduating seniors this year's Charger team will have to try to replace.

Hillsdale has plenty of talent returning in addition to Knight and Miller. Sophomore guard Chelsea Harrison was the team's top 3-point shooter last year and excels with heavy minutes and in clutch situations. Junior forward Laura Barczak made many positive strides in all aspects of her game last year, and sophomore Katie Bildner is a multi-skilled player who received valuable experience a year ago. Sophomore Elizabeth Brannick backed up Cezat last year, and has the strength and skill to contribute to the team's frontcourt this season.

Also returning to the Hillsdale lineup this season is guard Kara McCormick, who sat out last season after being diagnosed with lymphoma. She has returned to perfect health and will give Hillsdale another talented guard in the rotation.

Four freshmen join the program this year, including teammates from Henry Ford II High School, guards Lea Jones and Kelsey Raczak. Guard Emily Anderson was a four-time state champion at Heritage Christian High School in Indiana, and Michelle Lindsey comes to Hillsdale from Birmingham Marian High School, same place as 2009 graduate Claire Aubrey.

Please click on the link below to view the 2009-10 GLIAC Preseason Women's Basketball release.

2009-10 GLIAC Preseason Women's Basketball release