CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball landed four new signess for the 2026-27 class on Wednesday's signing day, the program announced. Addi Owen, Deborah Ayeni, Hailey Buckman, and Faye Williams complete the signing class for head coach Briley Palmer. 
 
Coach Palmer on the recruiting class overall: "This 2025 class is exactly what we needed to take SEMO Women's Basketball to the next level. Addi, Hailey, Deborah, and Faye are winners, competitors, and culture shifters. They come from great families, great programs, and they all believe in what we're building here in Cape Girardeau. Each one fills a specific need for us, and together they raise the standard for where this program is headed. Year Three is loading — and this group is a huge part of that." Said Palmer. 
 
Addi Owen – Guard – St. Louis, Mo. – Incarnate Word Academy
Addi Owen is a St. Louis, Missouri-native who will graduate from Incarnate Word Academy in 2026. She has lettered all three years, so far, for head coach Dan Rolfes (the father of current Redhawk assistant coach Kate Rolfes) in the backcourt as 2025-26 marks her second year of starting for Incarnate Word. 
 
Following her first season of starting as a junior, Owen landed on the conferences' 2^nd Team list. During her time at Incarante Word, Owen has won three Missouri State Class Six titles as she pursues her fourth this season. 
 
She plays travel basketball for Napheesa Collier Elite for coaches Jordan Olufson and Marc Stricker. 
 
Owen is a standout in the classroom as she has been an honor roll student her first three years of high school, a National Honors Society member, and is on student council. 
 
The daughter of Nathan and Jen Owen, Addi intends to pursuit a career in medical sales at Southeast. Her father Nathan is a Southeast Missouri graduate. 
 
Palmer on Owen: "Addi Owen is a winner in every sense of the word. It doesn't matter what the box score says — she impacts winning because of her toughness, IQ, and competitive fire. Playing for Dan Rolfes at Incarnate Word means she will show up college-ready from day one, and that's exactly the type of standard we want in this program. Addi also has deep Cape ties with her dad being a former SEMO player, and her family has fully embraced this community. We're thrilled she chose to come home and lead this next wave of Redhawk Basketball."
 
Deborah Ayeni – Forward – Anoka, Minnesota – Anoka High School
Deborah Ayeni is a native of Anoka, Minnesota and will join the Redhawks after graduating in 2026 from Aonka High School. A three-sport athlete, Deborah is a standout on the basketball court, the football field, and in Track & Field. 
 
She has played basketball for Anoka for four seasons, having lettered all four and started the last two for head coach Nick Novak. Following last season, Ayeni was selected as an All-Conference player in the Northwest Suburban Conference for the first time in her career. 
 
She played AAU basketball for the Minnesota Stars and club coach P.J. Hill. During her time at Anoka, Deborah played football on both sides of the ball. Ayeni played defensive line and tight end at Anoka and has been a team captain during her career. She also threw shot put for the track & field team. 
 
The daughter of Ola and Kenny Ayeni, Deborah intends to pursuit a career in Special Education at Southeast. 
 
Palmer on Ayeni: "Deborah Ayeni is one of those recruits you watch in July and think, 'There's no way we can pull this one.' But the more we talked, the more we connected. She played behind an elite post on a very good Minnesota Stars team, but every time she stepped on the floor, she changed the game. She finishes with either hand, moves like the former football player she is, communicates, defends, and impacts winning on every possession. Her family is incredible, and they trusted us with her future. Deborah is a huge piece of what we're building inside this program."
 
Hailey Buckman – Guard – Rogersville, Missouri – Rogersville High School
One of the top guards in the state of Missouri, Hailey Buckman hails from Rogersville, Missouri and will join the Redhawks after graduating from Rogersville High School in 2026. 
 
Buckman has started and lettered all four seasons at Rogersville for head coach Cory Watts. Last season, Buckman averaged 19.4 PPG, 8 RPG, 3 APG, and 2 SPG as a junior. She was named an All-State player and Player of the Year in both the Ozark Mountain Conference and her district. She surpassed 1,500 career points in just her third season of HS ball. 
 
She was the district's Player of the Year in her sophomore season as well, averaging 17 PPG and 6 RPG and was a First Team All-Conference selection as well. Her Rogersville team so far has won the Class 4 District 11 championship twice and finished third in the Class 4 Missouri State Tournament. 
 
She played AAU basketball for the Missouri Phenom for coaches Greg Logdson and Mike Jackson. 
 
Buckman was also a standout on the volleyball court. She has been a First Team All-District selection twice, and a two-time All-Conference selection in volleyball. 
 
The daughter of Carson and Karen Buckman, Hailey is a member of National Honor Society and is a two-time Academic All-State selection. She intends on majoring in pre-dental at Southeast. 
 
Palmer on Buckman: "Hailey Buckman is a big-time get for us. She had several Division I programs involved, and the fact that she chose SEMO says so much about the culture we're building. Hailey brings length, shooting, versatility, and an unbelievable work ethic. She's a culture kid — raised by two parents who value family, toughness, and doing things the right way. She believes in what our staff is doing, and she's going to play a major role in elevating SEMO Women's Basketball on the big stage."
 
Faye Williams – Forward – Memphis, Tennessee – Bartlett High School
One of the top forwards in the state of Tennessee, Faye Williams will join the Redhawks after graduating from Bartlett High School in Memphis, Tennessee in 2026. 
 
Williams attends the same high school as current Redhawk, Zoey Rixter, and has lettered all four season at Bartlett for head coach Jerry Wes Shappley. She is a two-time State All-Tournament selection, a two-time All-Distritc selection, and a two-time All-Region player. 
 
Her teams have won the District Championship all three years of her career so far, along with three-time Regional Championships, and have been three-time Tennessee State runners-up.  
 
A standout in track and field, Faye was a two-time state champion in middle school for high jump. 
 
The daughter of Lance and Minetta Williams, Faye intends to major in psychology at Southeast. 
 
Palmer on Williams: "Faye Williams is an impact forward with the size and skill set we've been looking for. Bartlett kids are always well coached, and Faye showed right away that she fits our culture. She has the tools to be a difference-maker in the OVC — her versatility, touch, and ability to play inside-out really stand out. She comes from a basketball family and has a huge desire to get better. We're extremely excited for her future as a Redhawk."