ROCHESTER, NY - Two members of the Utica University women's basketball team have garnered Empire 8 All-Conference selections, announced by the league on Thursday. 

Vanessa Hall (Independence, NY/Whitesville Central) has collected her third all-conference nod, and second selection to the first team. Hall ranked among the Empire 8's top scoring threats throughout the season and was a steady offensive presence for the Pioneers, reaching double figures in the majority of her appearances while consistently playing heavy minutes. Hall started all 25 games for the Pioneers and averaged a team-best 18.2 points per game, finishing the regular season with 454 total points. She shot an efficient 45.8 percent from the field, including 34.4 percent from three-point range, while converting 85.8 percent of her free throws. Hall also pulled down 7.2 rebounds per game, totaling 180 boards on the season, while adding 28 assists, 21 steals, and 11 blocks in 35.0 minutes per contest. In Empire 8 play, Hall elevated her game even further. Across 16 conference contests, she averaged 18.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and an outstanding 38.9 percent from beyond the arc. She was nearly automatic at the free-throw line, knocking down 89.5 percent (77-of-86) of her attempts in conference action. Hall totaled 288 points in league play and recorded nine blocks and 13 steals, continuing to impact the game on both ends of the floor.

McKenzie Simmons (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) has been named Utica's recipient of the Empire 8 Tomorrow's Leaders award. One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2026 Women's Basketball Tomorrow's Leaders Team. This team honors a student-athlete who has emerged as a leader not only on the field of play, but in the classroom and in the community. In addition, they "compete with honor and integrity" and have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.