GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles open the 2023-24 women's basketball campaign with a wild stretch, playing three Crossroads League opponents in the span of four days, all on the road. CU begins in the Saint Francis Cougar Classic on Friday and Saturday. They will take on the host Saint Francis in their season opener, before playing Goshen the next morning. On Monday, Cornerstone continues their home and home series with Spring Arbor for the fifth consecutive season. For more information on season opening weekend action, visit the links below.  
 
Opponent: Saint Francis (Ind.)
Location: Fort Wayne, Ind. (Hutzell Athletic Center)
Date: Friday, October 27
Time: 8 p.m. EST
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Opponent: Goshen College (Ind.) 
Location: Fort Wayne, Ind. (Hutzell Athletic Center)
Date: Saturday, October 28
Time: 10 a.m. EST
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Opponent: Spring Arbor (Mich.)
Location: Spring Arbor, Mich. (McDonald Athletic Center)
Date: Monday, October 30
Time: 8 p.m. EST
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New Expectations
Head Coach Jessica Yonkers enters year six at the helm of the Golden Eagle program, and the team is set for the highest expectations they have seen under her direction. After a 15-14, 13-7 WHAC record a season ago that placed them fifth in the conference and sent them to a WHAC Tournament Semifinal game, Cornerstone has been tabbed to finish fourth in the 2023-24 WHAC Preseason Poll. The voting, however, has Cornerstone just seven votes away from the second-place preseason selection of Concordia, as the WHAC expects a lot of parity from 2-12 in the conference. The multi-defending WHAC Champion Indiana Tech Warriors are once again the preseason favorite headed into the 2023-24 year. 
 
Returning Strength
The Golden Eagles return four of their five starters from a season ago, including the powerhouse center Stephanie Ainsworth who earned First Team All-WHAC and All-WHAC Defensive Team honors a season ago. CU also sees Jaxi Long return, a WHAC All-Freshman Team performer from a season ago. Five of the top six Golden Eagle scorers return as well, including Maddison Fulks and Olivia Kubik who were the top two three-point shooters from a season ago. 
 
New Additions
On top of the key returners, CU adds a load of new returners. The returners are highlighted by transfer center Megan Bennett who comes to Cornerstone after a season with Hope College. Bennett, although she did not play much for Hope, stands at 6-2 and brings depth to the center position. Cornerstone also sees additions of freshmen Gracie Gortmaker and Laura Innerebner who bring more size to the forward position, as well as guard Kylie Heck. 
100 Blocks
Junior Stephanie Ainsworth has been one of the best rim protectors in the country over the last two years, tallying 84 total blocks. She needs just 16 more to become one of the very few in Cornerstone history to achieve 100 in their career. To crack the top five all-time in program history, Ainsworth needs 143 to nock Ashley Niedermayer (2011-15) off the list.
 
This Week's Opponents
The Golden Eagles will play three of the 10 Crossroads League teams in the matter of four days, getting a mixed bag in terms of where these teams finished a season ago. Saint Francis and Spring Arbor finished fourth and fifth in their conference respectively a season ago, and Goshen finished last with just a 2-16 conference record. Spring Arbor opens their season tonight at Grace Christian, while Goshen and Saint Francis will open their season at the Cougar Classic just like the Golden Eagles. 
 
 
Women's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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