Women's Basketball | 11/6/2025 11:00:00 AM
SUNY Geneseo is looking to earn back-to-back Empire 8 Championships, as the 2025-26 season gets underway on Friday Nov. 7. League play begins with two games between SUNY Geneseo and Keuka and Alfred and Nazareth on Dec. 6. League play resumes on Jan. 6.
The top eight teams will advance to the E8 Championship Tournament, which will take place with quarterfinal action on Saturday, Feb. 21, semifinal round games on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and the championship three days later on Saturday, Feb. 28. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2025-26 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.
2025-26 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Players to Watch
(Sorted Alphabetically by Institution)
ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Mike Moskowitz
Jaidyn Chest, Jr., G, Mayfield, NY/Mayfield - Chest, a 2024-25 second team all-conference selection, was the leading scorer for the Saxons in 2024-25, averaging 13.1 points per game and totaled 341 points on the season. She also averaged 5.2 rebounds per game and had a top-two performance in steals with 42.
Natalee Collins, Sr., F, Waterville, NY/Waterville - Collins was a leader defensively for the Saxons in 2024-25. She led the team in rebounds with 156 on the season, averaging 6.5 rebounds per game. She was also second on the team in blocks with 13.
SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Corinne Jones
Stephanie Jean-Baptiste, Sr., G, Jersey City, NJ/John Jay - Jean-Baptiste, the 2024-25 Empire 8 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, was a first team all-conference selection as well as a third team D3hoops.com All-Region pick. She led the Golden Eagles in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game. She shot 46.9 percent from the floor as well as 77.9 percent from the free-throw line. She added an impressive 67 steals on the season.
Peyton Maneri, So., G, Auburn, NY/Auburn - Maneri, the 2024-25 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, had a fantastic debut season. She averaged 8.5 points per game and totaled 247 points on the season. She shot 42.1 percent from the floor and had a team-high 74 steals on the season.
ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Thad Phillips
Amari Dixon, Sr., G, Elmira, NY/Elmira - Dixon averaged 7.1 points per game in 2024-25 and shot 39.2 percent from the floor. Defensively, she led the Soaring Eagles in steals with 50 on the season and also averaged 6.6 rebounds per game.
Emma Ryan, So., G, Long Island, NY/St. John the Baptist - In her debut season, Ryan totaled 107 points and 56 rebounds. She added seven steals and six blocks in 2024-25.
SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Alyssa Polosky
Grace Galgano, Sr., F, Brewster, NY/Brewster - Galgano, a third team all-conference pick in 2024-25, was top-three in scoring for the Knights. She averaged 9.9 points per game and shot 49.4 percent from the floor. She also averaged 7.3 rebounds per game as well as finishing with 20 steals on the season.
Kristin Suydam, Jr., F, Sayville, NY/Sayville - Suydam, a second team all-conference selection and a third team D3hoops.com all-region pick, led the Knights in scoring in 2024-25. She averaged 11.8 points per game and held a 52.4 shooting percentage from the floor. She also led the team in rebounds, averaging 7.5 per game. She totaled 42 blocks on the season, putting her at the top for the Knights.
HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Sarah Lombard
Macy Durkin, Jr., G, Syracuse, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt - Durkin, a 2024-25 third team all-conference selection, led the Hawks in scoring in her sophomore season. She averaged 10.9 points per game totaling 262. She also led the team in rebounds with 203, averaging 8.5 per game.
Yadi Smith, Jr., G, Poughkeepsie, NY/Franklin D. Roosevelt - Smith came in second in rebounds for the Hawks last season. She totaled 77 and averaged 3.5 per game. Offensively, she averaged 6.3 points per game and led the team in three-point percentage at 34.3 percent.
HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Phil Pellegrino
Tabitha DeVries, Jr., F, White House Station, NJ/Hunterdon - DeVries was second in scoring for the Highlanders in 2024-25. She averaged 12.4 points per game and shot 53 percent from the floor. She averaged 6.6 rebounds per game and was top-two on the team in blocks with 23.
Crysta LaCrosse, Sr., G, Liberty Township, OH/Mount Notre Dame - LaCrosse, the 2022-23 E8 Co-Rookie of the Year, is a three-time second team all-conference selection. She averaged 9.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game and had 37 steals last season.
KEUKA COLLEGE - Head Coach Paige Emborsky
Mary Cotter, Sr., G, Hershey, PA/Hershey - Cotter, a two-time E8 Player to Watch, led the Wolves in scoring in 2024-25. She totaled 286 points on the season averaging 11.4 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game with 30 assists and 16 steals.
Lillian Mullen, So., G Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood - In her debut season, Mullen was second in scoring for the Wolves. She totaled 201 points averaging 8.7 points per game. She also led the team in steals with 27.
NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Kelly Dunne-Romig
Kiara Anglin, Sr., G, Rochester, NY/Brighton - Anglin, the 2024-25 Empire 8 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a 2023-24 third team all-conference member, was the defensive leader for the Golden Flyers in 2024-25. She averaged 6.7 rebounds per game and totaled 46 steals. On offense, she averaged 8.2 points per game and held a 40.8 field goal percentage.
Sarina McDowell, Jr., F, Avon, NY/Avon - McDowell, a 2024-25 first team all-conference selection, lead the Golden Flyers in scoring. She totaled 336 points and averaged 12.4 points per game. Defensively, she added 5.4 rebounds per game with 14 steals and 23 blocks.
SUNY POLY - Head Coach Jessica Skelton
Alysha Jackson, Jr., G, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy - Jackson led the Wildcats in scoring last season. She averaged 11.9 points per game and shot .334 percent from the floor. She also tied for first in steals with 44.
Sanaa Lee, So., F, Harlem, NY/Gorton - Lee was a block machine for the Wildcats in 2024-25. She led the team and the Empire 8 with 79 total blocks on the season. She was also top-three in the league in rebounds, averaging 8.6 per game. She added 5.6 points per game on the season as well.
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Michael Branche
Layla Acosta, Sr., G, Haines City, FL/Haines City - Acosta, a 2024-25 second team all-conference and a 2023-24 third team all-conference selection, had a stellar junior season. She averaged 12.7 points per game totaling 342 points on the season.
Kallie Hopkins, Jr., F, Millsboro, DE/Poly Tech - Hopkins totaled 212 points in 2024-25 and held the second-highest field goal percetage on the team. She was a leader defensively for the Gators averaging 7.6 rebounds per game totaling 204. She landed fifth in the conference in rebounding.
ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Sarah Cartmill
Presleigh Brunner, Sr., G, Hamburg, NY/Nardin Academy - Brunner, the top-scorer for the Cardinals in 2024-25, averaged 10.4 points per game while shooting 43.1 percent overall, 38.6 percent from three and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line whil starting 26 of 27 contests. She also grabbed a career-high 120 rebounds (4.4 per game.)
Hannah Ferguson, Sr., G, Owego, NY/Newark Valley - Ferguson played and started in each of the Cardinals 27 games last season. She averaged 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Ferguson shot 43.8 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free-throw line.
UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Allison Coleman
Vanessa Hall, Jr., F, Whitesville, NY/Whitesville - Hall, a two-time E8 Player to Watch and the 2023-24 E8 Co-Rookie of the Year, earned third team D3hoops.com All-Region accolades. She was a second team all-conference selection in 2024-25 and a first team selection in 2023-24. Last season, Hall led the team in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game. She shot 47 percent from the floor, 36 percent from 3-point range and 81 from the free-throw line.
McKenzie Simmons, Sr., G, Red Hook, NY/Red Hook - Simmons led the way on defense for the Pioneers last season. She totaled 185 rebounds and averaged 7.4 per game. She had a team-high 43 steals and 11 blocks. She was also second in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game.
Final 2024-25 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Standings
Brockport (24-5, 15-1 E8)
Geneseo (24-7, 14-2 E8) - League Champions
Nazareth (20-7, 13-3 E8)
St. John Fisher (19-8, 13-3 E8)
Russell Sage (11-15, 9-7 E8)
Houghton (18-11, 8-8 E8)
Alfred (13-13, 7-9 E8)
Elmira (12-14, 6-10 E8)
Poly (6-19, 5-11 E8)
Hartwick (6-18, 4-12 E8)
Utica (4-21, 2-14 E8)
Keuka (5-20, 0-16 E8)
2024-25 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Tournament Recap
Quarterfinals
No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 8 Elmira, 101-62 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 7 Alfred, 68-43 – BOX SCORE
No. 3 St. John Fisher defeated No. 6 Houghton, 72-55 – BOX SCORE
No. 4 Nazareth defeated No. 5 Russell Sage, 71-48 – BOX SCORE
Semifinals
No. 1 SUNY Brockport defeated No. 4 Nazareth, 93-86 – BOX SCORE
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 3 St. John Fisher, 72-54 – BOX SCORE
Championship
No. 2 SUNY Geneseo defeated No. 1 SUNY Brockport, 66-63 -– BOX SCORE
2024-25 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Mackenzie Reigle, Sr., G, SUNY Geneseo
2024-25 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Conference Award Winners
- Kiara Anglin, Nazareth, Sr., G, Rochester, NY/Brighton - 2024-25 Empire 8 Co-Defensive Player of the Year
- Vanessa Hall, Utica, Jr., F, Whitesville, NY/Whitesville - 2023-24 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year, 2023-24 D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region
- Stephanie Jean-Baptiste, Brockport, Sr., G, Jersey City, NJ/John Jay - 2024-25 Empire 8 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, 2024-25 D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region
- Crysta LaCrosse, Houghton, Sr., G, Liberty Township, OH/Mount Notre Dame - 2022-23 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year
- Peyton Maneri, Brockport, So., G, Auburn, NY/Auburn - 2024-25 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
- Kristin Suydam, Geneseo, Jr., F, Sayville, NY/Sayville - 2024-25 D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region