MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's women's basketball team came up short in Wednesday's season-opening 76-51 loss to rival Coe inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The young Rams (0-1) took a 15-13 lead on a Rachael Adewusi bucket late in the first quarter, although Coe (1-0) responded with a 12-0 spurt that extended into the second period. The Kohawks played out in front the rest of the way.
  
Senior Ani'ja Simmons paced Cornell's balanced scoring attack with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor. Adewusi and Kali March pitched in eight points apiece for the Rams, who had five players make their collegiate debuts.
 
Randi Wright grabbed a game-high nine rebounds in her first contest with the Rams. Simmons and Adewusi added six boards apiece.
 
The Kohawks, an 18-win team a season ago, shot 47.4 percent for the game and connected on eight 3-point goals. Cornell was held to 32.3-percent shooting, after going 5-of-9 in the opening quarter.
 
Coe earned a point in the 2023-24 Bremner Cup All-Sport Series, and now leads the head-to-head competition 5-1.
 
Coming up – The Rams host the four-team Cornell Classic this weekend.
 
Saturday's games include Luther vs. Carroll at 5 p.m., and Cornell vs. Illinois Wesleyan at 7 p.m. On Sunday, Luther faces Illinois Wesleyan at 1 p.m., followed by Cornell vs. Carroll at 3 p.m.