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Coach Owen Signs Six to 2026-27 Squad
5/19/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Hamden, Conn. – Quinnipiac Women's basketball head coach Roman Owen has filled out the 2026-27 roster with the signing of six Bobcats to start his tenure in Hamden. Coach Owen has announced the signing of one first-year and five transfer student-athletes to join the Bobcats for the upcoming season.
Coach Owen's first signing as the Quinnipiac women's basketball head coach was incoming first-year Alanna Benoit from Mandeville, Louisiana. After the signing of Benoit, Owen went back to work and secured commitments from Lily Thomas (Missouri Southern State University), Kayla Hopson (Gulf Coast State College), Leila Washington (Cloud County Community College), and Payton Dulin (George Washington), before completing the class with the signing of Elle Snyder (Evansville).
"We are off and running! Each one of these young women brings character and talent that are going to impact this program and the university at a high level. I couldn't be more proud of our staff and department for the effort they put in to attract all of these players. It's a great day to be a Bobcat!" – Quinnipiac Women's Basketball Head Coach Roman Owen
Alanna Benoit – Guard – First-Year – Mandeville, La.
Alanna Benoit comes to Hamden after four years at Mandeville High School in Louisiana. Throughout her time in high school, Benoit scored 2,486 career points, grabbed 929 career rebounds, and dished out 439 assists. Benoit was a 43% shooter from the floor and a 33% shooter from beyond the arc during her time at Mandeville. Benoit was previously committed to McNeese State before flipping her commitment to join Coach Owen's squad in Hamden.
Lily Thomas – Center – Sophomore – El Reno, Ok.
Lily Thomas transferred to Quinnipiac after playing her first collegiate season at Missouri Southern State University. Thomas appeared in all thirty games, with three starts, while averaging 18.8 minutes per game. The El Reno, Oklahoma, native led her team in field goal percentage, shooting 47% from the field, and averaged 9.1 points per game. Thomas scored a career-high 23 points in the MIAA Quarterfinal win over Northwest Missouri.
Kayla Hopson – Guard – Junior – Harlem, NY.
Kayla Hopson will join the Bobcats for her junior season after stops at CSUN (California State University, Northridge) and Gulf Coast State College. In her freshman campaign at CSUN, Hopson averaged 3.0 points per game and 2.2 rebounds per game in 23 appearances for the Matadors. Hopson transferred to Gulf Coast State College for her sophomore season and saw jumps in nearly every category. Hopson started 30 contests for the Commodores and averaged 8.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 5.6 APG in 14.3 minutes per game.
Leila Washington – Forward – Junior – Garber, Ok.
Leila Washington makes her way to Hamden after stops at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa and Cloud County Community College. In her first season at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa, Washington earned All-NJCAA Region 2 Second Team honors after averaging 13.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 1.1 BPG. Washington reached double figures 18 times in her first collegiate basketball season, while scoring 20+ points seven times. Washington transferred to Cloud County Community College for her sophomore season, where she averaged 14.0 PPG and 7.3 RPG in 30 games played. Washington led Cloud County in field goal percentage (48.2%), rebounds per game (7.3), and blocks (41), while ranking second in three-point field goal percentage (35.9%) and scoring (14.0 PPG).
Payton Dulin – Guard – Sophomore – Baldwin, NY.
After spending her first year at George Washington, Payton Dulin will transfer to Quinnipiac for her sophomore campaign. Dulin appeared in 29 games for the Revolutionaries and averaged 1.8 PPG, 1.2 RPG, and 0.9 APG coming off the bench. In high school, Dulin led Baldwin to two AA Long Island Championships and was a three-time county champion. Dulin recorded her 1,000th high school point in her junior season, for which she was later named to the New York All-State team. Dulin is a two-time Nassau County Player of the Year after helping lead Baldwin to a 54-4 record in her first three years in high school.
Elle Snyder – Guard/Forward – Junior – Latrobe, Pa.
Elle Snyder will make the move to Hamden after spending two years at the University of Evansville. In her first year in Evansville, Snyder appeared in 16 contests before suffering a season-ending injury. Prior to her injury, Snyder averaged 4.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG in 21.1 minutes per contest. Snyder returned to the court last season and appeared in 35 games, starting 33. The Pennsylvania native averaged 3.8 PPG and 5.4 RPG in her sophomore season. Snyder scored a career-high 18 points in a road win at the University of Northern Iowa.
The six newest signees will join the three returners in Paige Girardi, Maria Kealy, and Ava Sollenne. Along with the three returning Bobcats, Quinnipiac announced the signings of Mya Alston, Uliana Doronina, Imani Mullings, and Ava Thomas during last season. Both Alston and Thomas earned McDonald's All-American nominations last year. Alston was ranked the second-best player in Oklahoma according to 247Sports. Uliana Doronina played her high school ball at the Hoosac School and was named a NEPSGBA AAA All-Star. Imani Mullings played at Plainfield High School in New Jersey and scored over 1,300 career points. Ava Thomas attended the Mary Louis Academy and earned CHSAA First Team All-League honors.
To stay up to date with all Quinnipiac women's basketball news, follow the program on Twitter/Instagram @QU_WBB or visit www.gobobcats.com/wbb.
Coach Owen's first signing as the Quinnipiac women's basketball head coach was incoming first-year Alanna Benoit from Mandeville, Louisiana. After the signing of Benoit, Owen went back to work and secured commitments from Lily Thomas (Missouri Southern State University), Kayla Hopson (Gulf Coast State College), Leila Washington (Cloud County Community College), and Payton Dulin (George Washington), before completing the class with the signing of Elle Snyder (Evansville).
"We are off and running! Each one of these young women brings character and talent that are going to impact this program and the university at a high level. I couldn't be more proud of our staff and department for the effort they put in to attract all of these players. It's a great day to be a Bobcat!" – Quinnipiac Women's Basketball Head Coach Roman Owen
Alanna Benoit – Guard – First-Year – Mandeville, La.
Alanna Benoit comes to Hamden after four years at Mandeville High School in Louisiana. Throughout her time in high school, Benoit scored 2,486 career points, grabbed 929 career rebounds, and dished out 439 assists. Benoit was a 43% shooter from the floor and a 33% shooter from beyond the arc during her time at Mandeville. Benoit was previously committed to McNeese State before flipping her commitment to join Coach Owen's squad in Hamden.
Lily Thomas – Center – Sophomore – El Reno, Ok.
Lily Thomas transferred to Quinnipiac after playing her first collegiate season at Missouri Southern State University. Thomas appeared in all thirty games, with three starts, while averaging 18.8 minutes per game. The El Reno, Oklahoma, native led her team in field goal percentage, shooting 47% from the field, and averaged 9.1 points per game. Thomas scored a career-high 23 points in the MIAA Quarterfinal win over Northwest Missouri.
Kayla Hopson – Guard – Junior – Harlem, NY.
Kayla Hopson will join the Bobcats for her junior season after stops at CSUN (California State University, Northridge) and Gulf Coast State College. In her freshman campaign at CSUN, Hopson averaged 3.0 points per game and 2.2 rebounds per game in 23 appearances for the Matadors. Hopson transferred to Gulf Coast State College for her sophomore season and saw jumps in nearly every category. Hopson started 30 contests for the Commodores and averaged 8.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 5.6 APG in 14.3 minutes per game.
Leila Washington – Forward – Junior – Garber, Ok.
Leila Washington makes her way to Hamden after stops at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa and Cloud County Community College. In her first season at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa, Washington earned All-NJCAA Region 2 Second Team honors after averaging 13.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 1.1 BPG. Washington reached double figures 18 times in her first collegiate basketball season, while scoring 20+ points seven times. Washington transferred to Cloud County Community College for her sophomore season, where she averaged 14.0 PPG and 7.3 RPG in 30 games played. Washington led Cloud County in field goal percentage (48.2%), rebounds per game (7.3), and blocks (41), while ranking second in three-point field goal percentage (35.9%) and scoring (14.0 PPG).
Payton Dulin – Guard – Sophomore – Baldwin, NY.
After spending her first year at George Washington, Payton Dulin will transfer to Quinnipiac for her sophomore campaign. Dulin appeared in 29 games for the Revolutionaries and averaged 1.8 PPG, 1.2 RPG, and 0.9 APG coming off the bench. In high school, Dulin led Baldwin to two AA Long Island Championships and was a three-time county champion. Dulin recorded her 1,000th high school point in her junior season, for which she was later named to the New York All-State team. Dulin is a two-time Nassau County Player of the Year after helping lead Baldwin to a 54-4 record in her first three years in high school.
Elle Snyder – Guard/Forward – Junior – Latrobe, Pa.
Elle Snyder will make the move to Hamden after spending two years at the University of Evansville. In her first year in Evansville, Snyder appeared in 16 contests before suffering a season-ending injury. Prior to her injury, Snyder averaged 4.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG in 21.1 minutes per contest. Snyder returned to the court last season and appeared in 35 games, starting 33. The Pennsylvania native averaged 3.8 PPG and 5.4 RPG in her sophomore season. Snyder scored a career-high 18 points in a road win at the University of Northern Iowa.
The six newest signees will join the three returners in Paige Girardi, Maria Kealy, and Ava Sollenne. Along with the three returning Bobcats, Quinnipiac announced the signings of Mya Alston, Uliana Doronina, Imani Mullings, and Ava Thomas during last season. Both Alston and Thomas earned McDonald's All-American nominations last year. Alston was ranked the second-best player in Oklahoma according to 247Sports. Uliana Doronina played her high school ball at the Hoosac School and was named a NEPSGBA AAA All-Star. Imani Mullings played at Plainfield High School in New Jersey and scored over 1,300 career points. Ava Thomas attended the Mary Louis Academy and earned CHSAA First Team All-League honors.
To stay up to date with all Quinnipiac women's basketball news, follow the program on Twitter/Instagram @QU_WBB or visit www.gobobcats.com/wbb.
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