Women’s basketball brings home multiple Empire 8 awards

By: Zach Harnischfeger

The Brockport Women’s Basketball team had multiple players win Empire 8 awards in their first season in the Empire 8 conference.

Freshman Peyton Maneri was named Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. The freshman was named Empire 8 Rookie of the Week five times and averaged 8.3 points per game, which was third highest on the team. Maneri also averaged 2.6 assists per game and 2.4 steals per game and went along to lead the Empire 8 conference in steals with 73.

Maneri trying to get past an Elizabethtown defender on Sat. March 8, 2025. Photo Credit: Mick Anders/ Brockport Athletics

“She was a good piece to come in because she is also good at defense, so that helped us,” teammate Stephanie-Jean Baptiste said. “I think she has a bright future ahead of her.”

Junior Stephanie-Jean Baptiste was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and was a First-Team All-Conference selection. She led Brockport in points per game with 18.3, which was second best in the conference. She posted 2.4 steals per game which was also second best in the conference.

These awards go along with her Second-Team All-Conference selection from last season and Rookie of the Year honor from her freshman year.

“It definitely feels good,” Baptiste said. “I feel like any conference recognition is good for the program and myself. Last year, I know first team all-conference was something I wanted and I came up short, so it feels good to have it this year.”

Junior Cam Tooley and Graduate Student Kaileigh Hunt earned Second-Team All-Conference selections in their first season with the Golden Eagles.

Tooley, a transfer from LeMoyne, was one of Brockport’s all-around threats this season. She posted 8.5 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game, and 1.8 steals per game.

Tooley shooting a Layup on Sat. March 8, 2025. Photo Credit: Mick Anders/ Brockport Athletics

“It means a lot, the most important thing is that awards like this are more of a team award," Tooley said. "Without the hard work we’ve put in this season and without the way we played, these awards don’t happen. I’m just grateful to have such a great coaching staff and such a great team to play around. It makes it all so much fun."

Tooley credits head coach Corinne Jones for all of her success this season.

“Coach Jones instilled confidence in me from the start,” Tooley said. “She really challenged me to make plays and find the open player. That is something I had to gain confidence with throughout the season. She was also right there along with me pushing me to be great.”

Hunt was one of the Golden Eagles' top scoring and rebounding threats. She averaged 11.9 points per game with a team high 7.1 rebounds.

Hunt looking to shoot on Sat. March 8, 2025. Photo Credit: Mick Anders/ Brockport Athletics

“It means a lot to get any conference award,” Hunt said. “To be there and to do it with two of my fellow teammates, Stephanie-Jean Baptiste and Cam Tooley is something I am extremely proud of, especially in my first season as a Golden Eagle. It shows the work we put in all season.”

Hunt was happy to spend her last season of college basketball playing for Brockport.

“I am in my fifth year of collegiate basketball, and I can honestly say there has been no team I’ve enjoyed playing with more,” Hunt said. “This team is truly special. The program is special. The Golden Eagles family is special. The Green and Gold runs deep. This team brought back my love for basketball and competition, and I am eternally grateful to have had this opportunity in my last season of play. It means a lot.”

Hunt was also named to the Empire 8 All-Tournament Team after averaging 15.3 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists while scoring a team high 17 points in the championship game.

The coaching staff consisting of head coach Corinne Jones, Scott Foster, Dyamon Hunter, Anna Felice, Zairea Hannah, and Jenn Jones earned Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year. It was a record-breaking year for the Golden Eagles as the coaching staff led Brockport to a program-record 19-2 start and 13-game winning streak. They finished the season as Empire 8 regular season champions.

Coach Jones drawing up a play on Sat. March 8, 2025. Photo Credit: Mick Anders

Senior Shannon Blankenship earned Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year for Brockport for her commitment on and off the floor. Serving as captain for the Golden Eagles and starting all 27 games, she posted averages of 7.6 points per game and 1.6 steals per game.

The Golden Eagles season came to an end on Saturday in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament to Elizabethtown. Brockport ended the season with a 24-5 overall record and a 15-1 in Empire 8 play.