BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University women's basketball team, led by veteran head coach Cheri Harrer, is less than one week away from kicking off their 2025-26 campaign.

Entering her 36th season at the helm of the women's basketball program, Coach Harrer will lead a roster that features five seniors, six Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections, and two College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recipients. Junior guard Laura McCoy (Newtown Falls / Garrettsville Garfield), an OAC All-Tournament Team honoree last season, returns to the lineup. The Yellow Jackets also return senior forward Alyssa Miller (New Philadelphia), an Academic All-OAC performer who led the team in blocks and served as a key starter last season.

Other forwards that are returning to help Miller in the wing are senior Brooke Thompson (Maineville / Little Miami), Maddy Stumpf (Johnstown / Big Walnut), Delaney Garcia (Lakewood), and Sarah Scott (Monaca, Pa. / Lincoln Park). Thompson, a two-time Academic All-OAC honoree, appeared in 30 games and was third on the team with 17 blocks and fourth on the team with 101 rebounds. 

Academic All-OAC guard/forward Kayla Jones (Grove City) will also support the frontcourt with a full season of playing experience from 2024-25. Jones scored a career-high 152 points (4.9/game) and got 71 total rebounds. Her skillset will be critical to the team's turnover margins since she made 40 steals, which was second on the team last season.

The returning guards include McCoy, Jessica Wolanin (Olmsted Falls), Taylor Bass (Strongsville), senior Leah Riley (Cincinnati / Sycamore), senior Ava Wilkerson (West Mansfield / Marysville), Elise Champagne (Columbia Station / Columbia), senior Ali Menendez (Hudson), and senior Kaycie Badylak (Cincinnati / Archbishop McNicholas).

Wilkerson appeared in 31 games and scored a career-high 159 points last season. Badylak also played in every game while scoring 120 points and making 19 starts. Bass, Riley, and Menendez are Academic All-OAC honorees who will look to contribute to the Brown and Gold's success on the perimeter.

Up Next

• The No. 9 Yellow Jackets will begin the 2025-26 season on Tuesday, November 11 when they take on No. 20 Trine University (Ind.) on the road at 7:00 p.m.