ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's basketball team opens its 2025–26 campaign this Friday on the road against Division I opponent Colgate University. Head coach Dan Raymond, entering his 26th season at the helm, will lead the Bombers alongside assistant coaches Jim Mullins and Elizabeth Thompson.
 
Ithaca is coming off a strong 2024–25 season, finishing 19-8 overall and 17-1 in Liberty League play, earning the regular-season title and a berth in the Liberty League Championship game. The Bombers also put together an impressive 16-game win streak last year. Raymond emphasizes that this season is a fresh start.
 
"This year's team looks, sounds and feels so different from last season that I don't believe there is any real momentum that can be taken from last season," said head coach Dan Raymond. "The players are so focused on building and leaving their own mark this season and that's what the conversations have centered around. The 2025-26 ICWB is all about the legacy they are creating."
 
The Bombers will face a challenging start, playing 10 of their first 11 games on the road, including a six-game stretch to open the season. This run features early Liberty League matchups against Vassar, Skidmore, and William Smith. Raymond welcomes the challenge.
 
"The schedule is going to challenge everyone, coaches included, to determine who we are, what are our strengths as well as weaknesses, how will we respond to hardships and obstacles that inevitably occur and who is going to step forward in the tough situations," said Raymond.
 
Ithaca enters the season with a young roster, anchored by two seniors: Zoraida Icabalceta and Avery McPeek. Raymond said those seniors will lead the way and rely on juniors and sophomores to embrace opportunities to step into new and more significant roles on and off the court, which is how they will establish the culture of success the program is striving for.

Among returning contributors, Tori Drevna and Madison Gill are expected to play pivotal roles after strong performances in last year's Liberty League Championship. Drevna appeared in all 27 games last year where she averaged 5.2 points per game, while Gill shot 34.0% from downtown and averaged 6.5 during her first year on campus.
 
Other key returnees include All-Liberty League First Team selection Zoraida Icabalceta and Third Team selection Elizabeth Majka. Icabalceta received her first career All-Conference award after she averaged 9.1 points and 3.3 assists per game, recorded the second-most steals on the team with 39, and achieved a career-best 13 blocks. Majka notched 17 starts in 25 appearances during her sophomore campaign that saw her average nine points, 4.3 rebounds, and tied for a team-high with 20 blocks.
 
Raymond's vision for the season goes beyond wins and losses. He explained that the goal is to build relationships among all 25 individuals centered around trust, communication, passion and discipline.
 
The Bombers will compete in the Brockport Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 21–22, facing Fredonia and SUNY Brockport. After the early road-heavy schedule, Ithaca closes the regular season with 15 straight Liberty League games, including four of the final six at home in Ben Light Gymnasium. The season finale is set for February 21 against Vassar College.
 
Friday's matchup at Colgate will be the ninth all-time meeting between the schools and first regular season contest against each other since the 1983-84 season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. and it will be on ESPN+.