The women’s basketball team began its 54th season with a demanding two-game road stretch that offered an early look at both the challenges and the promise within a roster blending experience and fresh talent.
The Red (0-2, 0-0 Ivy) opened its season on Friday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. with a challenging 64–38 loss to Bryant (2-0, 0-0 AmEast) in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The matchup marked the start of head coach Emily Garner’s second season, following a 7–20 finish in the 2024–25 season.
The roster featured nine returning players, including four of the team’s top-five scorers from the previous season, while welcoming five newcomers to the program. Cornell entered the year as one of just 25 Division I programs to retain its entire roster without a single transfer departure, a sign of continuity and stability as the Red look to build upon last season’s foundation.
Cornell’s offense, however, struggled to find rhythm in the opener. The Red shot just 26 percent from the court (13-50), 27.8 percent from three (5-18), and 53.8 percent from the free-throw line (7-13).
Senior forward Emily Pape led the way for the Red, scoring a team-high nine points while adding seven rebounds. Pape begins the season just 163 points shy of becoming the 16th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, a milestone last achieved by Samantha Widmann. This game also marked the collegiate debut of her younger sister, freshman guard Ally Pape, making them the third set of sisters ever to share the court for Cornell. Pape contributed five points, including a three-pointer and a pair of free throws.
Cornell’s scoring was balanced behind the Pape sisters, with freshman forward Grace Renners providing an efficient seven points along with three rebounds and an assist. Sophomore guard Kelsey Langston contributed two points to go with two steals, playing a steady role in the backcourt.
Defensively, Cornell showed discipline that defined stretches of last season, forcing Bryant to turnover the ball 17 times and grabbing a total of 34 rebounds. However, extended scoring droughts ultimately proved too costly, limiting the Red’s ability to capitalize on those defensive stops.
Returning to the road, on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. in Pittsburgh, the Red went up against the University of Pittsburgh (2-1, 0-0 ACC). The matchup also marked the Red’s third all-time meeting with Pitt, with all three played in Pittsburgh.
Cornell delivered its strongest offensive start of the season, shooting 53.8 percent (7-13) from the floor and 66.7 percent from three in the opening quarter to set the tone.
Junior guard Clarke Jackson led the Red with an efficient 15 points, adding seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Junior guard Rachel Kaus secured 11 points while chipping in four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Sophomore guard Paige Engels added 9 points, knocking down a three-pointer and providing two assists.
Cornell out-rebounded Pitt on the offensive glass, collecting eight offensive rebounds and finishing with 30 total rebounds. Its defensive pressure forced key turnovers and held the Panthers under 60 points. With under a minute remaining, Cornell had an opportunity to tie or take the lead, but Pitt’s defense held strong, allowing the Panthers to escape with a two-point win.
With the narrow defeat, the Red fell to 0–2 but left Pittsburgh with momentum and growing confidence.
Looking ahead, the Red will continue, facing off against Le Moyne College on Nov. 22 at Syracuse, New York. Coverage will be available on ESPN+.
