ITHACA, N.Y. – Dayna Smith, The Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Women's Basketball has announced that eight student-athletes will join the Big Red for the upcoming 2016-17 season. The eight-member class is the largest brought to East Hill by Smith.
 
The group hails from eight different states and boasts four guards and four forwards.
 
Cornell Women's Basketball Class of 2020
 

#34 Marie Hatch – 5-10 – G
Bethesda, Md. (Walt Whitman HS)
Hatch earned four varsity letters at Walt Whitman High School, leading the team to three state semifinals before winning the 2016 Maryland 4A State Championship as a senior captain. A two time all-county honorable mention selection, she was also named 2015 Washington Post All-Met honorable mention, and to the2015 4A South All-Conference team. Hatch was also a 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings All-Star and won her school's 2016 Britton Chichester Award, given for showing dedication, perseverance, spirit, kindness, and leadership on and off the court. She also played for the Germantown Lady Panthers.
 
Smith on Hatch: "Marie is a steady and consistent presence on both ends of the floor. She is a smart decision-maker and solid ball-handler that will provide added depth to our perimeter core next season. Marie's ability to play within a system combined with her ability to shoot the basketball will fit well into our offensive schemes and we are excited to have her in our program."
 
#5 Dylan Higgins – 5-11 – G
Bala Cynwyd, Pa. (The Episcopal Academy)
A four-year letter winner at The Episcopal Academy, Higgins led her team to a pair of InterAc League Championships (2013, 2014) and a PIAA State Championship in 2013. She was her team's leading scorer as a junior and served as team captain for her senior season. Higgins was named the Blue Chip Super Showcase Team MVP (2015) and the West Chester Classic MVP that same season. She earned her team's 2015 Mind, Body, and Spirit Prize winner, awarded to the member of the team who in the opinion of her teammates and coaches, demonstrates excellence in the classroom exemplified by diligence and effort, athletic prowess, and admirable spirit and sportsmanship. Higgins also lettered one time in soccer.
 
Smith on Higgins: "Dylan will provide welcome length and athleticism on the perimeter for us next season. She is a slashing guard that flourishes on the break, and along with Sam [Widmann] will bring a unique dimension to our lineup. Dylan utilizes her length well on the defensive end of the floor and we look forward to implementing some different looks in combination with the other newcomers."
 
#4 Daniell Jorgenson – 5-9 – G
Orono, Minn. (Orono HS)
Jorgenson earned five varsity letters at Orono high school, where she set the school record for steals, ranks second all-time in assists, and registered 1,249 career points. As a senior captain, she was selected as a Miss Minnesota Basketball Final 12 and was a Class AAA All-State honoree. Jorgenson also made the Minneapolis StarTribune All-Metro third team, was a Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association (MGBCA) All-Star selection, and was named a MGBCA Academic All-Star as a senior. She led Orono to three Wright County Conference (WCC) championships and the team finished third in Class AAA during her junior season. Jorgenson also lettered four times in soccer and three times in track. She helped her soccer team to the Minnesota Class A State Championship as a junior before a runner-up finish as a senior. As a member of the Orono high school track team she set a school record in the 4x400.
 
Smith on Jorgenson: "Danielle is a hard-nosed competitor with a knack for getting into the paint. She is a skilled distributor that loves to play fast, which will fit well within our uptempo style. Danielle's scrappy defensive style and anticipation skills will really benefit our defensive system as well, and we are excited to add her to our back-court."
 
#30 Reena Olsen – 6-3 – F
Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. (Putnam Valley HS)
A four-year letter winner at Putnam Valley High School, Olsen served as team captain in each of her final three seasons. She led her team to the 2016 NY Section 1 Class B Final Four after winning the league title during her senior season. Olsen was a three-time first-team all-league selection and was named the league Player of the Year as a senior. She was also named to the New York all-state fourth team, the Journal News All-LoHud team, and was selected to the 2016 Section 1 Final 4 Class B All-Tournament Team. Olsen was also a two-time all-section honoree and won the NY Section 1's Isabel Costa Award, an academic award honoring a student athlete's commitment to basketball, school, and the community. She also lettered three times in volleyball at Putnam Valley.
 
Smith on Olsen: "Reena with her strong 6-3 frame brings that much needed size to our front-court going into next season. Her ability to rebound and finish around the basket, along with her presence on the defensive end of the floor, is an exciting combination. She will add a unique dimension to our front-court with her interior presence and length, and we are really looking forward to having her as part of our forward core."
 
#35 Maddy Reed – 5-10 – F
Arlington, Va. (Georgetown Visitation Prep)
Reed was a four year letter winner at Georgetown Visitation Prep, helping the Cubs to four Independent School League AA Championships, and a DCAA Championship as a junior. She served as team captain as a senior and was named first-team ISL and was a Washington Post All-Met honorable mention that same season. Reed also lettered twice in girls' lacrosse at Georgetown Visitation Prep.
 
Smith on Reed: "Maddy is an extremely versatile small forward with the ability to play inside and out. Her unbelievable work ethic and determination on the defensive end of the floor gives her the ability to defend multiple positions which is very exciting for us as a staff! Maddy loves to put the ball on the floor and is comfortable mixing it up with bigger defenders in the paint. We look forward to the added versatility Maddy will bring to our forward lineup next season."
 
#12 Samantha Widmann – 5-11 – G
Lawrenceville, N.J. (Notre Dame High School)
A four-year letter winner at Notre Dame HS, Widmann served as team captain all four seasons. She led her team to a pair of County Championships, was a four-time first-team all-county selection, and was twice named the county MVP. Widmann was named the Trentonian Newspaper honorable mention all-state as a sophomore, before being selected to the second team in each of her final two seasons. She was also named to the New Jersey All-Star team following her senior season. Widmann also lettered once in girls' lacrosse.
 
Smith on Widmann: "Sam plays with a tenacious mentality that we are really looking forward to having in our program next season. She is as physical and as competitive as they come, plays with a blue-collar persona and has a great nose for the ball. Her versatility on the perimeter will add another dimension to our lineup, and we are very excited to have her in our program."
 
#45 Stephanie Umeh – 6-1 – F
Los Angeles, Calif. (Notre Dame Academy)
Umeh lettered four times in basketball at Notre Dame Academy and was a four-time first-team All-Mission League selection. After earning her team's Most Improved Player award as a freshman, she was named the team's MVP in each of her final three seasons. Umeh was a first-team All-CIF selection in 2015 and 2016, and was an All-State Girls Basketball nominee those same seasons. She was named the Maxpreps Player of the Week on Feb. 15, 2016. Umeh also lettered three times in volleyball. She was a three-time first-team All-Mission League selection and a two-time first-team All-CIF selection in volleyball.
 
Smith on Umeh: "Stephanie is a lengthy and athletic small forward with the ability to get up and down the floor and score on the break. Stephanie's leaping ability makes her a threat on both the glass and on the defensive end of the floor. She brings great versatility to the forward core with the ability to score close to the basket and put the ball on the floor, and she will be a welcome addition to our forward contingency in 2016-17."
 
#25 Jessica Willerson – 6-3 – F
Falmouth, Maine (Catherine McAuley HS)
Willerson earned four varsity letters at Catherine McAuley high school, serving as team captain during her senior season. She reached the 1,000-point plateau and was a Miss Maine Basketball semifinalist in 2016. Willerson was named to the Maine McDonald's All-Star Team as a senior and was also a Maine McDonald's All-State Academic Team selection. A three-time Southern Maine Athletic Association All-Conference honoree, Willerson was named to the first-team as a senior and was also a SMAA All-Star that same season. She was a two-time Portland Press Herald Telegram Girls' Basketball All-State team selection and was named Portland Press Herald second team as a junior. Willerson was also named to the Maine Broadcasting Radio All-Star team three times. She won her team's Rookie of the Year award, as well as the team's MVP award as a sophomore.
 
Smith on Willerson: "Jessica's solid 6-3 frame adds much needed size to our front-court in 2016-17. She has very good mobility and footwork which will be important in our uptempo style, and she is comfortable finishing with either hand around the basket. Jessica's ability to step out and knock down the perimeter jumper as well as finish with contact makes her the versatile forward threat that will fit well into our system and we are looking forward to having her in the lineup.