ITHACA, N.Y. – Dayna Smith, The Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Women's Basketball, has announced the addition of five student-athletes to the Big Red roster in advance of the 2020-21 season. The group, which hails from five different states, includes four incoming freshmen and one sophomore transfer.

The newest members of the Cornell squad will enhance both the Big Red's backcourt and frontcourt, featuring a mix of crafty guards, sharp shooters, and versatile forwards. The highly talented bunch will have the ability to make their presence known as soon as they step on the floor for the Big Red, which will be seeking to punch its ticket to the Ivy League Tournament for the second time in three years this season.

"We are very excited about the energy and passion for the game that these five newcomers will bring to our team," said Smith. "Their competitiveness, experience and versatility will prove to be very valuable and should have an immediate impact on our fairly young squad. We cannot wait to get started and look forward to seeing the dynamic that these five will create within our program."

Meet the Newcomers

Mia Beam – 5-8 – Guard
Louisville, Ky. (Christian Academy of Louisville)
Prior to Cornell
• Helped the Christian Academy of Louisville to back-to-back Kentucky 2A Championships in 2018-19 and 2019-20, earning a spot on the All-Tournament team both seasons.
• Two-time second team all-region selection.
• Two-time all-district honoree.
• Played on the club circuit for the Nike Lady Gym Rats.

Coach Smith on Beam:  "Mia is an excellent shooting guard with solid range and footwork. She moves well without the ball and has a quick release from beyond the arc. We are excited about the consistency with which she scores the ball and know she will adapt quickly within our system." 

Val Garcia-Martinez – 5-8 – Guard
McAllen, Texas (McAllen Memorial HS)
Prior to Cornell
• 2020 McDonald's All-America Nominee.
• Named The Monitor's 2019-20 All-Area Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
• Selected to play in the 2019 Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star game.
• Two-time all-region and four-time all-district selection for McAllen Memorial HS.
• Helped McAllen Memorial to four-consecutive district championships.
• Played AAU for STX Valley Hoopsters.
• Also competed in four years of track and field at McAllen Memorial, earning three letters as a high jumper.

Coach Smith on Garcia-Martinez:  "Val has a competitive drive that we are looking forward to adding to our backcourt this season. She has a scorer's mentality and does a nice job of creating and finishing in the lane. We are looking forward to having her as part of our perimeter core this year."

Kaya Ingram – 5-8 – Guard
Albuquerque, N.M. (La Cueva HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Three-time all-state selection for La Cueva HS, earning first team accolades as a junior and senior.
• Led La Cueva to the New Mexico Class 5A State semifinals during her senior campaign.
• Named the 2019-20 District 2-5A Player of the Year.
• Tabbed the 2020 New Mexico High School Coaches Association 5A Girls All-Metro Player of the Year.
• Selected as the 2020 Albuquerque Journal Basketball Athlete of the Year.
• 2020 McDonald's All-America nominee.
• Three-time first team all-district and first team All-Metro performer for La Cueva.
• Two-time team captain of her La Cueva team.
• Played AAU basketball for the West Texas Blazers.

Coach Smith on Ingram:  "Kaya is a dynamic guard with a knack for scoring off the dribble and finishing in the paint. She has great control around the basket and creates opportunities for both herself and others. Kaya is also a tenacious defender with quick footwork and will pose a threat in our defensive system. We are excited to have Kaya in our program."

Kendall Miller – 6-2 – Forward
Waccabuc, N.Y. (John Jay HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Earned NY Section One All-League and All-Section honors as a senior at John Jay HS.
• Named a 2019-20 LoHud Westchester/Putnam County All-Star.
• Elected captain of her John Jay team as a senior.
• Attended Long Island Lutheran HS for her sophomore and junior seasons, helping her team to back-to-back New York State Federation AA semifinal appearances.
• Helped Long Island Lutheran to a top-25 national ranking on Max Preps in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
• Played her freshman season at Saint Anthony's HS, guiding her team to the 2016-17 NSCHSGAA League Championship.
• Won the Atlantic City Showcase Championship with Team Rio.

Coach Smith on Miller:  "Kendall is a versatile forward with a really well-rounded skill-set. Her ability to finish around the rim, score off the dribble and extend the defense with her three-point shooting ability will be a very welcome addition to our frontcourt and our system. Kendall's length will pose a threat on the defensive end of the floor as well. We are thrilled to have Kendall at Cornell."

Olivia Snyder – 6-0 – Guard
Center Valley, Pa. (Georgetown/Southern Lehigh HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Played in four games as a freshman at Georgetown before transferring to Cornell for her sophomore season.
• Southern Lehigh HS's all-time leading scorer (both boys and girls), tallying 2,077 career points.
• Third all-time leading scorer in the history of Lehigh Valley girls basketball, becoming one of only 11 players in the Lehigh Valley (both boys and girls) to eclipse the 2,000-career points mark.
• Named the 2018-19 AP 5A Player of the Year.
• Selected as a 2018-19 Gatorade Player of the Year finalist.
• Four-time all-state selection for Southern Lehigh, earning AP First-Team All-State and USA Today First-Team All-State honors as a senior.
• Named the 2018-19 Morning Call Player of the Year, in addition to receiving four other Player of the Year awards during senior campaign.
• Chosen as the 2017-18 Lehigh Valley Live Player of the Year after earning Lehigh Valley Live First-Team All-Area honors in 2016-17.
• Helped Southern Lehigh to back-to-back PIAA State Semifinal appearances in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
• Guided Southern Lehigh to four-straight league and District IX titles, becoming the only public school in the Lehigh Valley to accomplish both of these feats.
• Named the District XI Title Game MVP as a senior.
• Her Southern Lehigh team set the league records for most consecutive league wins (69), most consecutive wins (27), and most wins in a single season (27).
• Two-time Morning Call All-Area first team honoree.
• Two-time Colonial League MVP.
• Three-time first team All-Colonial League selection.
• Played on the club circuit for the Philadelphia Belles EYBL and Exodus EYBL.

Coach Smith on Snyder:  "We are really excited to have Olivia at Cornell. We recruited Olivia very strongly out of high school and are thrilled at the opportunity to now have her in our program. Olivia's athleticism and experience will prove to be valuable assets in our system. Her ability to score at all three levels, her length on the defensive end of the floor and her work ethic will really make an impact on our program."