Golden Eagles handle William Smith in home opener

By: Matt Hanes

BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Brockport women’s basketball claimed a strong 86-66 home opening win against the William Smith Herons to get back into the win column. Golden Eagles’ guard Stephanie Jean-Baptiste

added her fourth career double-double, scoring 21 points with 10 rebounds.

Brockport's bench celebrates after the team scores a basket on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo Credits: Liv Metz)

The Golden Eagles took the lead right out of the gates at home after Claire Turner drained a layup after a connection from Mandy Brink. Brockport did not let up their lead once throughout the entire matchup.

“I just think early on that teams aren’t used to our pressure” Brockport head coach Corinne Jones said. “I do think it can be better, but we do like to make people play chaotically.”

Jean-Baptiste, alongside sophomore Peyton Maneri, paced Brockport in the first quarter to pioneer a 22-14 lead. Maneri finished the game with 10 points and a team-high nine assists.

Brockport guard Stephanie Jean-Baptiste goes up for a contested jump shot on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo Credits: Liv Metz)

Brianna Carey, a D2 transfer from Caldwell University, also provided scoring in the Golden Eagles home opener. The junior added seven points in a 14-3 scoring stretch during the second quarter as Brockport led 43-27 at half.

Carey earned her fifth start this season and ended with 19 points and seven steals, both good for career highs with the Golden Eagles.

“I feel good,” Carey said. “If it wasn’t for our teammates and defense, I wouldn’t be able to get half my points or half my steals. Working as a team really helps me personally.”

Junior Brockport guard Brianna Carey dribbling through traffic on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo Credits: Liv Metz)

After a 16-point deficit at half, the William Smith Herons chopped Brockport’s lead down to just six points after four three pointers. McKenzie Mandyck led the scoring wave, nailing two threes in the stretch and finishing with a career-high 16 points.

Efforts from Casey Mahony, Brink and Jean-Baptiste helped reclaim the major Brockport lead in the end of the third quarter. The Golden Eagles finished the quarter up 63-48.

Brink finished with 13 points, three rebounds and three steals while Mahony contributed four points and five rebounds off the bench.

Junior guard Mandy Brink going up for a physical right hand layup on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo Credits: Liv Metz)

In the fourth quarter, the defensive pressure became too much for William Smith. The Golden Eagles full court press defense forced out 29 total turnovers for the Herons. A pair of layups between Carey and Jean-Baptiste helped Brockport win 86-66 in their home opener.

“It’s a lot of fun out there,” Carey said. “We have a lot of fun, it’s fun to go out and get steals and pass to each other to mess up teams. We all really enjoy that.”

While Brockport won the matchup, the shooting beyond the arc saw record lows for Team 50. Despite finishing every game this season with nine or more threes made, the Golden Eagles finished 3-for-29 (10.3%) from the three-point line.

“I think a lot of it is just confidence,” Maneri said. “We know we can shoot the ball. Not too long ago our three-point make percentage was higher than our two-point shots. Today wasn’t one of our stronger days with that but we will do it tomorrow.”

The Brockport women’s basketball team improves their record to 2-3 on the season. The Golden Eagles look to continue their home stretch against Ithaca College on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m.