ITHACA, N.Y. — The Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Cornell Women's Basketball Emily Garner enters her second season focused on building a program culture centered on toughness and attention to detail as the Big Red aim to build the foundation of success that it takes to compete in the Ivy League.
 
"We're focused on building a program, not just a team, and that takes time," said Garner. "The returners really have an idea of what it takes to be in that top-4 mentality. Our players are committed to the process and understand the commitment it takes day in and day out. We want to be known as the tough, gritty team with a chip on our shoulder, and we're taking it one step at a time."
 
 
Returners: Emily Pape, Rachel Kaus, Clarke Jackson, Paige Engels, Azareya Kilgoe, Kelsey Langston, Vivienne Knee, Audrey Chen, and Alana Andrews.
 
Cornell brings back a solid core from its 2024-25 campaign, led by senior Emily Pape. The forward led returners with 10.6 PPG while starting 26 games.
 
Rachel Kaus (9.6 ppg) and Clarke Jackson (7.1 ppg) provide reliable scoring punch, with Kaus shooting an impressive 48.2 percent from the field last season. Jackson, who played the most minutes on the team (857:57), brings steady on-court presence on both ends of the floor. 
 
Paige Engels offers 6.6 points per contest with team-leading 66 assists from the point guard position. The sophomore shot 34.7 percent from 3-point land as a freshman.
 
 
   

Newcomers: Trinity Jones, Ashley Childers, Grace Renners, Willa Chinn, and Ally Pape
 
Cornell's freshman class brings impressive high school pedigree. Willa Chinn (5-10 G) arrives as Washington State 3A Player of the Year with 1,000+ points and elite all-around numbers. Grace Renners (6-1, F) logged 1,433 career points and 779 rebounds with First Team All-State honors. Ashley Childers (6-3, F) provides crucial frontcourt height as a two-time League MVP, while Trinity Jones (5-7, G) brings championship experience and All-State credentials from Arizona. Ally Pape (6-0, F), sister of returner Emily, adds depth with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds from Illinois.

 
Preseason Poll:
 
The Big Red were selected to finish seventh in the Ivy League's annual Preseason Media Poll.
 
"It's a beast of a league," Garner said of the Ivy League. "It's really one of the best leagues in the country."
 
Schedule Outlook:
 
Cornell will open the season with four consecutive games on the road, including trips to Bryant (Nov. 7), Pitt (Nov. 11), Mercyhurst (Nov. 14), and Canisius (Nov. 16), before returning home to Newman Arena to take on Colgate (Nov. 18).
 
The Big Red will also take on Le Moyne (Nov. 30), Lehigh (Dec. 3), Quinnipiac (Dec. 6), Army (Dec. 9), Stanford (Dec. 28), and SUNY-Delhi (Jan. 13) in non-conference play.
 
Ivy League action is set to begin Jan. 3 at Columbia.