Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, missed 613 shots in his collegiate career. Senior co-captain Moina Snyder has missed only 110 shots since transferring to Cornell last year from Umpqua Community College. Maybe it’s just a fluke. Maybe Jordan attempted more shots. Or maybe Snyder is better than Jordan. Only time will tell, as the Red is off to a 2-2 start under Snyder’s efficient shooting and dominant presence in the paint.

After ranking second in school history with a .513 shooting percentage last season, Snyder began the 2007-08 campaign by draining her first eight shots from the floor and first six free throws, not missing a single shot attempt in the team’s first two contests.

The women’s basketball team began its season ranked No. 2 in the Ivy League, while the Mountaineers of West Virginia (3-0) began the season ranked No. 18 in the nation. After welcoming the Red (1-2) to the WVU Coliseum yesterday, West Virginia head coach Mike Carey improved to 35-1 in non-conference home games by defeating Cornell, 93-52.

“West Virginia is a very good, balanced team,” said head coach Dayna Smith. “They’re very explosive and went on long and very productive runs. We couldn’t really climb back in. They played like they’re 18th in the country.”

After both teams opened last night’s game with two and a half scoreless minutes, a 3-point

field goal from senior tri-captain Gretchen Gregg put Cornell up 3-0 in its home-opener against Lafayette (1-1). The Red (1-1) held the lead for the remainder of the game, earning its first win of the year and fourth home-opening victory in six seasons for head coach Dayna Smith.

Coming off of Saturday’s loss to Long Island, the Red got out to an early 11-4 lead on the strength of 3s from Gregg, sophomore Lauren Benson and junior Kayleen Fitzsimmons, along with a 2-point hoop from Fitzsimmons.

On Wednesday the Ivy League released the 2007-08 women’s basketball preseason media poll. Not surprisingly, defending champion Harvard sits atop the rankings with all but one of the 16 first place votes. Princeton received the only other first place vote and ranks second, tied with Cornell. The second place selection is the highest preseason ranking the Red has ever received, after finishing third in the Ivy League last season with a school-record eight conference wins.

This story was originally published online on August 4.

For most Cornell students, a European tour epitomizes the ideal summer getaway. For senior point guard Lauren Benson, it’s just another day at the office. Point guard training camps have become a sort of habit for the second-year captain, who once again devoted a significant portion of her vacation to readying for the upcoming season. This time, however, Benson’s preseason preparation took her across the Atlantic to Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy, with USA Athletes International –– an organization that provides amateur athletes with the opportunity to compete on an international stage.

For most Cornell students, a European tour epitomizes the ideal summer getaway. For rising senior point guard Lauren Benson, it’s just another day at the office. Point guard training camps have become a sort of habit for the second-year captain, who once again devoted a significant portion of her vacation to readying for the upcoming season. This time, however, Benson’s preseason preparation took her across the Atlantic to Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy, with USA Athletes International –– an organization that provides amateur athletes with the opportunity to compete on an international stage.