MOUNT VERNON – Fresh off one of the most prolific individual seasons in program history, Cornell's Erin Knowles has been named to the 2024-25 All-Midwest Conference Women's Basketball First Team, as announced Tuesday by the MWC office.
 
The first-year forward was also voted the MWC Newcomer of the Year, becoming the second Ram to earn the award (Anne Visser, 2017).
 
Knowles landed on the six-player first team, which included Ripon's Ella Ten Pas (Player of the Year) and Laney Havlovitz, Grinnell's Sara Booher and Bailey Strovers, and Knox's Bria Medina.
 
Knowles is the second Cornell freshman to gain first team all-conference honors in coach Brent Brase's 20 seasons, joining Rikki Mulloy (2012, Iowa Conference).   
 
The 6-foot-1 Knowles performed well beyond her years, leading the MWC in scoring (19.2 points per game) and field goal percentage (49.3). She shattered Cornell's single-season scoring record with 479 points. The long-standing mark was held by Sherri Pettit (436 points, 1987-88).
 
Knowles ranked No. 3 in the MWC in minutes played (31.3 mpg), No. 6 in rebounds (7.3 rpg), No. 8 in free throw percentage (67.9) and No. 11 in assists (2.1 spg) and blocked shots (0.6 bpg). Her school-record 184 free throw attempts are 13th-most nationally entering this week's NCAA Tournament.  
 
Knowles reached double figures scoring in all 25 games, topping the 20-point mark 11 times. She delivered season-highs of 27 points and 18 rebounds in a win over Knox Feb. 22, which ultimately clinched Cornell's berth to the MWC Tournament. Knowles posted five double-doubles.
 
Among three freshmen in this year's starting lineup, Knowles guided the youthful Rams to a 14-11 record and fourth-place MWC finish at 10-6.