ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell women's basketball is on the verge of embarking on the 2024-25 slat set to kick off on Monday, Nov. 4, at Army. The women's team, which will see its first season under the Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Women's Basketball,
Emily Garner, is ready to take on two Big Ten opponents, renew old rivalries, and even face some new foes. After the conclusion of last season, women's hoops had three athletes graduate, including two starters. The Big Red will be looking to fill the gaps left by the graduating class with four new recruits. Meet the new class below!
#2 Paige Engels
Fr. • Guard • 5-8 • Golf, Ill. (Loyola Academy [Willmette, Ill.])
2024 first-team All-State honoree ... two-time All-State honorable mention (2022, 2023) ... Most Valuable Player in the GCAC (2024) ... two-time All-GCAC honoree (2023, 2024) ... 2024 State Champion ... super-sectional winner (2024) ... two-time sectional champion (2022, 2024) ... three-time regional champion (2022, 2023, 2024) ... tallied over 1000 points in her varsity career ... two-time captain with her high school program (2023, 2024) ... graduated as an AP Scholar with honors ... named a Loyola Scholar ... played club basketball with Full Package Athletics in the Adidas Circuit.
Coach Garner's comments: "Paige is a versatile guard that has the ability to elevate our program with both her intensity and toughness. She comes from a state-championship high school program and knows what it takes to be successful at the next level. A 3-level scorer, she also has the ability to tempo push and facilitate, and we think she'll be an excellent fit within our offensive system."
#4 Alana Andrews
Fr. • Forward/Guard • 6-2 • New York City, N.Y. (Grace Church School)
Three-time NYSAIS State Quarterfinalist (2022, 2023, 2024) ... totaled over 1800 points and 1200 rebounds in her varsity career ... NYCAL All-League MVP (2024) ... NYCAL All-League first team (2024) ... two-time ACIS All-League first team honoree (2022, 2023) ... ACIS All-League MVP (2023) ... two-time ACIS All-League first-team representative (2022, 2023) ... NYCAL Playoff champion (2024) ... two-time ACIS Playoff Champion (2022, 2023) ... three-year varsity captain (2022-24) ... played one season fo track where she became an NYCAL All-League high jumper her senior season ... set the school record in shot-put and high jump ... played volleyball her sophomore season ... played club basketball for Castle Athletics ... two-year first chair saxaphonist ... captain of her schools debate team.
Coach Garner's comments: "A versatile forward, Alana brings size and length to this class. She has the ability to be a consistent 3-point threat and stretch the floor and is an excellent rebounder. She's also a phenomenal leader and teammate and brings great energy to the program. We're looking forward to seeing her fit into our system."
#12 Audrey Chen
Fr. • Guard • 5-7 • South Pasadena, Calif. (La Salle College)
Two-time D3 John Wooden Player of the Year (2022, 2023) ... D2 All-CIF Southern Section Player of the Year (2023) ... D3 All-CIF Southern Section Player of the Year (2022) ... D1 All-Southern Section second team (2024) ... two-time first-team All-League Del Rey (2023, 2024) ... first-team All-League Camino Real (2022) ... D3 2022 CIF California State Runner-ups ... D3 2022 CIF California Southern Regionals Champions ... D3 2022 CIF California Southern Sectional Champions ... D2 2023 CIF California Southern Sectional Champions ... also played volleyball her sophomore year ... member of the Mu Alpha Theta Honors Society, the Science National Honors Society, the National Honors Society, and the Spanish Honors Society ... also was selected to be a part of the Senior Senate, a student body advisory group that is teacher and principal appointed.
Coach Garner's comments: "Audrey also comes from a prolific high school program and brings a winning mindset. A shifty high motor guard with excellent court vision, she has the ability to score multiple ways as well as create for others. Her defensive energy is also phenomenal, and she has the ability to be disruptive on the defensive end. We think she'll be an excellent fit within our system."
#21 Kelsey Langston
Fr. • Guard • 5-7 • Wilmette, Ill. (Loyola Academy [Wilmette, Ill.])
Two-time All-GCAC honoree (2023, 2024) ... 2024 State Champion ... super-sectional winner (2024) ... two-time sectional champion (2022, 2024) ... three-time regional champion (2022, 2023, 2024) ... two-time captain (2023, 2024) ... won the team's defensive award in 2024 ... earned the team's coach's award in 2023 ... member of the National Honors Society ... played club basketball for Midwest Elite (EYBL), where she was a captain.
Coach Garner's comments: "Another player from a championship program, Kelsey brings a phenomenal defensive energy and intensity to the team. She's a consistent 3-point threat with deep range and has great downhill speed. We're looking forward to seeing her bring that defensive mindset to our team defensive system, and think she'll be a great fit."
The four freshmen and the rest of the Big Red kick off the 2024-25 campaign when they travel to West Point, N.Y. to take on Army on Monday, November 4.
