ITHACA, N.Y. – Dayna Smith, the Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Women's Basketball has announced that four student-athletes will join the Big Red for the upcoming 2018-19 season. The group, which includes one transfer student, hails from three different states and boasts two forwards, and two guards.
 
"We are really looking forward to what these four players will bring to our lineup next season," said Smith. "Their size, versatility, and athleticism will surely have an immediate impact on our program and we are excited to see how well their skill-sets blend with those of our returning players."
 
Cornell Class of 2022
#43 Annika Hoff – 6-2 – Forward 
(Northfield High School) Northfield, Minn. 
Prior To Cornell
• Earned five varsity letters in basketball at Northfield High School.
• Two-time team captain.
• Two-time Big Nine All Conference selection.
• Named MGBCA All-State honorable mention as a senior.
• An MGBCA Academic All-State selection in 2017-18.
• Led Northfield to a MNHSL Class 3A State runner-up finish as a senior, after a MNHSL Section 1 3A runner-up finish as a junior.
• Named to the 2018 MNHSL Class 3A All-Tournament Team.
 
Coach Smith on Hoff: "We are looking forward to the length and agility Annika will provide our forward core this coming season. She is capable of finishing with both hands around the basket, moves well on the break, and has very good hands inside. Defensively she has solid foot-work and is a shot-blocking presence on the interior. We are excited to add Annika to our front court in 2018-19."
 
#15 Theresa Grace Mbanefo – 6-0 – Forward 
(Blaine High School) Otsego, Minn. 
Prior To Cornell
• Earned four varsity letters in basketball at Blaine High School.
• Served as team captain as a senior.
• Two-time all-conference selection.
• Selected as the Horizontal Jumps MVP in 2017.
• Named the Vertical Jumps MVP in 2016.
• Also lettered three times in track & field, serving as team captain as a senior.
 
Coach Smith on Mbanefo: "We are really excited about the athleticism Theresa Grace will bring to our front court. Her timing and leaping ability are superb and she is a crafty scorer around the basket. Her speed provides an advantage in transition, where she is able to catch and score on the move quite consistently. We are looking forward to her ability to play on both ends, as her defensive and rebounding presence will also be a welcome addition."
 
#10 Caitlyn Smith – 5-5 – Point Guard 
(Palm Beach State College/Vero Beach High School) Vero Beach, Fla. 
Prior To Cornell
• Played one season at Eastern Florida State College before finishing her JUCO career at Palm Beach State College.
• Two-Time Academic All-American.
• Earned first-team NJCAA DI Southern Conference honors in 2018.
• Named second-team NJCAA DI Southern Conference in 2017.
• Served as team captain at both Eastern Florida and Palm Beach.
• Earned a combined four varsity letters at Vero Beach and Sebastian River High Schools.
• Led Vero Beach to the 2016 8A State Championship as a senior.
• Three-time all-area selection.
• Three-time team captain.
 
Coach Smith on Smith: "We are looking forward to having Caitlyn as part of our backcourt in 2018-19. She has a scrappy and intense demeanor that will pair well with our current lineup of perimeter players. Her ability to create off the dribble as well as knock down the deep three will be ideal in our up-tempo style of play. We look for Caitlyn to make a solid impact."
  
#11 Samantha Will – 5-11 – Guard 
(Bishop Brady High School) Loudon, N.H. 
Prior To Cornell
• Earned four varsity letters in basketball at Bishop Brady High School.
• Served as team captain as a senior.
• Led Bishop Brady to the NHIAA Division II final four as a senior.
• 1,000-point scorer.
• Named 2018 Miss New Hampshire Basketball.
• Named first-team all-state as a junior.
• Second-team all-state as a freshman.
• Chosen as the Concord Monitors 2017 Player of the Season.
• Two-time New Hampshire Basketball Coaches' Organization All-Academic Team selection.
• Won the 2018 Thomas Hardiman Effort Award, given to a player who is focused and driven to obtain athletic success.
•Won the Frank Monaghan leadership award for basketball, given to a player who demonstrates excellent leadership throughout the season.
• Also earned four varsity letters in lacrosse and three varsity letters in soccer at Bishop Brady.
• Served as team captain of both teams as a senior.
 
Coach Smith on Will: "We are pleased to announce the addition of Samantha to our lineup. She is a versatile guard with the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish in traffic, as well as knock down the perimeter shot. She is tenacious defensively and can defend multiple positions with her size and footwork. We are looking forward to having Samantha as part of our guard core."