Combining experience, size and a few first-year players who are eager to contribute on the court could be a recipe for success for the Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team in 2012.

Returning 10 players from a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament a season ago, the Lakers have a variety of options at their disposal on both ends of the floor. The team demonstrated those strengths Wednesday night, defeating Northwood University 52-47 to bring their record to 8-7, 5-3 GLIAC.

“It’s a lot of fun knowing we have people who can score from anywhere on the floor,” said sophomore guard Kellie Watson. “You know that if you drop it to Alex (Stefox) at the top of the key she can score from there, you got Brittany (Taylor) who can rip and go from out top, and Briauna (Taylor) who can score from the inside. We just have a lot of people who are threats all over the floor.”

The roster includes balance, with Division II honorable mention All-Americans Stelfox and Briauna Taylor along with fifth-year senior Kara Crawford and Watson, a transfer from the University of Notre Dame.

With a mid-season suspension due to disciplinary reasons ending the year for senior point guard Jasmine Padin, the GVSU offense will look to freshman Meryl Cripe and Watson to run the offense.

“Both young ladies are strong guards who want to make each other and their teammates better,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “It’s a great thing for the rest of team; I think they feel very comfortable and composed.”

Although experience and the play of Watson and Cripe will be a factor in helping the Lakers make strides toward the GLIAC Tournament, GVSU will also look to take advantage of its size. The Lakers only have one player on their roster under 5-foot-9.

“We’re going to have to use it to our advantage,” said Burgess. “We’re going to have to rebound well and understand that defensively, we’re not going to be a pressure type team, we’re going to be a contain penetration, inside out type of team. Offensively, when we are able to move the ball we should be able to have a strong inside presence.”

Watson, who played in all 31 games as a freshman for the Fighting Irish and was named Miss Basketball of Michigan in 2008, will look to stabilize the team’s inside-out ball movement with her ability to step in and knock down long-range shots. The redshirt sophomore has a team-leading 23 3-pointers this season.

“We have a good outside threat with Watson as a shooter,” Burgess said. “Then we’ve got Briauna Taylor, Dani (Crandall) and Brianna Kellogg who continue to find their identity from the three-point line and beyond.”

The Lakers will square off with Hillsdale College at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the Fieldhouse Arena.

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