ITHACA, N.Y. - With less than 48 hours away from the first official regular season game, the Ithaca College women's basketball team is aiming for high expectations and results for the upcoming 2024-25 season. After a tough loss in the Liberty League semifinals last season and finishing in third place in Liberty League standings, both the coaching staff and team are looking at a different approach for this year. 
 
Now in his 25th season as head coach, Dan Raymond will be looking to lead the Bombers back to a Liberty League title this year. Raymond will be joined by assistant coaches Mary Mazzella and Jim Mullins. The coaching staff is excited to work with this edition of a roster that features and exciting mix of returners and new additions.
 
"We feel that this group can compete at a very high level, said head coach Dan Raymond." "This team can advance past the elite 8 and can be a final four team but it's not going to be easy.
 
Raymond spoke on how his goals for the season consist of returning to the pinnacle and winning the Liberty League regular season, hosting the Liberty League tournament and winning a Liberty League championship. In addition, the squad has its sights on making it to the NCAA tournament and to the Elite 8, and ultimately cutting down nets in Salem, Virginia. 
 
"We have the talent to do all these great things, everyone has to commit to their role, and their role will contribute overall to team success," added Raymond.
 
The Bombers will return three out of their five starters from a season ago in June Dickson, Annabella Yorio, and Anya Watkins. Senior Jillian Payne, junior Zordia Icabalceta, and sophomore Tori Drevna will also be returning after seeing significant minutes last year.  Dickson was the Bombers leading scorer at 12.2 points per game, where she knocked down 31.3% from downtown and Anya Watkins had seven double-doubles during the 2023-24 campaign. But those are not the only faces you will see for the Bombers this year, Raymond also touched on the aspect of how having a large roster means more depth. 
 
"We have a lot of depth this year, which means a lot of different student-athletes that are going to be able to contribute," said Raymond. "We want to run a fast-paced offense and defense, which means more players will enable us to do what we are looking to accomplish." 
 
In addition, a familiar face in the Liberty League joins the Bomber squad in graduate transfer guard Emma Waite from RIT, who decided to take her final year of eligibility at Ithaca. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native was the Tigers leading scorer averaging 12.4 points per game and was ninth in the league for total points scored with 323.
 
"The experience that Emma Waite has as a graduate student and knowledge of the Liberty League is something that is going to be very valuable for us", said assistant coach Mary Mazzella. "She fits in great with the exact type of offense and defense that we want to play this year." 
 
Both coaches emphasized the idea of "One Boat", the team's mantra for the 2024-25 season. Inspired by the movie "The Boys in the Boat", both the team and coaches felt that the movie's message directly aligned with the attitude that they wanted to replicate throughout the year. The Bombers non-conference schedule will begin on Wednesday, November 13 inside Ben Light Gymnasium where they will face crosstown rival SUNY Cortland. After a buzzer-beating win last year, the game is bound to be a tight matchup between the two teams.
 
Ithaca's non-conference schedule continues with games against St. John Fisher on Nov. 19 and SUNY New Paltz on Nov. 23, with both games being played at home. Liberty League play will begin on December 6 at home against Vassar College and Bard on December 7. The Bombers will also take part in the Springfield Tournament in Springfield, Mass. on December 31 and January 1 where they will square off against both Tufts and Middlebury. The first home game of the spring semester will be on Friday, January 17 when Ithaca hosts Clarkson University at 5:30 p.m. for a Liberty League matchup.