By: Joseph Hovey
Kennesaw State (0-0) vs. Shorter (0-0)
Kennesaw, GA | VyStar Arena | Monday, Nov. 2 | 11 a.m. EST | ESPN+
KENNESAW, Ga. — Kennesaw State women's basketball will tip off the
Tianni Kelly era and 2026-2027 season versus Shorter at 11 a.m. EST on Nov. 2.
Hired as the program's ninth head coach on March 30, Kelly brings a reputation as a recruiter, player developer and program builder as head coach at Charleston (WV, 2020-24), associate head coach at Chattanooga (2024-26) and as an assistant at Valdosta State (2019-20) and Florida Southern (2017-19).
With only four returning players from last year's team, Kelly and her staff quickly reshaped the program through the transfer portal, junior college recruiting and the addition of international talent. The result is a roster filled with new faces, experienced veterans and promising young players.
NICHOLS AND FLOWERS RETURN
Shania Nichols leads the Owl returners after averaging 9.2 points per game last season while shooting 36.6 percent from 3-point range and setting a program single-season record with an 89.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Nichols is joined by fellow returners
Kaelyn Flowers,
Emaya Lewis and
Madyson Elliott.
Flowers started 24 games a season ago, averaging 6.3 points, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 38.1% from the field and 77.4% from the free-throw line.
THE PORTAL GIVETH
The Owls added significant experience and versatility through the transfer portal with the arrival of forwards
Tracey Bershers,
Kayla Sullivan and
Toni Warren as well as guard
Riley Talbert. A sixth-year senior, Bershers has tallied over 500 points and 200 rebounds in 76 career games of experience at Minnesota, UAB and Oklahoma State.
In 2025-26, Bershers was part of a Golden Gopher team that went 24-9, finished fourth in the Big Ten, achieved a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 before falling to eventual national champion UCLA in the Sacramento Regional.
Before playing at Minnesota, Bershers spent three seasons at UAB, in which she averaged seven points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 40.3% from the field, 38.4% from three and 77.6% from the free-throw line. In her second season at UAB in 2023-24, Bershers started all 28 games and averaged 9.1 points and 4.6 rebounds while helping the Blazers to the first of two straight WNIT appearances.
Sullivan played in 29 games and started 19 for Valparaiso in 2025-26. As a Beacon, Sullivan averaged 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds. She scored in double figures four times, including a season-high 14 on Jan. 1 at Indiana State. Sullivan's collegiate career began at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri. The Roadrunners went a combined 46-15 during Sullivan's two seasons. As a sophomore at State Fair, Sullivan garnered NJCAA Division I All-America Third Team honors, First Team All-Region XVI and First Team All-Conference while averaging 10.8 points and 6.8 rebounds.
A veteran of two seasons at Wofford, Warren returns home to north Georgia to play at KSU as a junior this season. In 25 games played for the Terriers in 2025-26, Warren averaged 7.8 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 39.7% from the field and 95% from the charity stripe.
Talbert turns to KSU for her redshirt sophomore season after playing in 25 games and starting four at UAB in 2025-26. In 9.5 minutes per game, Talbert shot 44.4% from the field and 33.3% from 3-point range while twice scoring a career-high nine points for the Blazers.
Talbert and Bershers reunite with the Owls after their time as teammates at UAB during Talbert's redshirt season in 2024-25.
JUCO REINFORCEMENTS
The junior college ranks produced two more key additions for the Owls in
Arissa Jenkins and
Lamarah Cleaves.
Jenkins joins the Owls following her 70-game junior college career at Shelton State in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As a sophomore in 2025-26, Jenkins helped the Bucs to a 30-4 season and run to the NJCAA Division I Quarterfinals. Jenkins' freshman season featured her scoring 7.1 points per game while shooting 44.3% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc with 11 double-figure outings. Her 39 3-pointers and 39.4% from three led the Bucs in ACCC play. Jenkins' 3-point prowess helped power Shelton State to an NJCAA Division I national runner-up finish in 2024-25.
Cleaves comes to KSU after two years of junior college ball, including a sophomore season highlighted by a Second Team All-MACCC selection at Jones College in Ellisville, Mississippi. Cleaves started all 29 games for the Bobcats in 2025-26, averaging 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 41.5% from the field, posting eight double-doubles and six games of 20 or more points. Her season-best performance came in a 67-57 win over Copiah-Lincoln, in which she scored 25 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and recorded four steals. With Cleaves' help, Jones College advanced to the NJCAA Division I Region 23 Quarterfinals.
FRESHMAN TANDEM
True freshmen
Nyjae Malikali-El (Baltimore, Maryland) and
Uliana Kolesnyk (Munich, Germany) also join KSU in 2026-27.
Malikali-El signed with the Owls in November 2025 as she geared up for a senior season in which she averaged 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 5.4 steals. A First Team All-Baltimore County selection, Malikali-El's senior season also yielded a Top Varsity Elite Star award from Maryland High School Sports.
A member of the 2025 FIBA U18 and 2023 U16 German National Teams, Kolesnyk further bolsters the Owl front court. The Munich native helped her U18 German squad to a EuroBasket Division B runner-up finish while averaging 5.3 points and three rebounds in six games. Germany's U16 team won the Division B Championship in 2023, with Kolesnyk recording 6.9 points and three rebounds per game over seven EuroBasket contests.
Learn more about the 2026-27 Owls by watching Owl Network's Carolyne Harris in her preseason conversation series with the team.
KSU AND SEASON OPENERS
The Owls will look to win their third straight season opener and 10
th straight home opener on Monday. KSU defeated Shorter 85-36 to open the 2025-26 season and Life 72-53 in the 2024-25 lid-lifter. The Owls have won their last nine consecutive home openers, starting with a 71-61 win over Georgia State in 2017-18.
OWLS-HAWKS HISTORY
KSU and Shorter meet for the 28
th time on Monday with the Owls leading the all-time series 20-7, including 9-3 in Kennesaw with 19 consecutive wins overall.
When the two in-state foes last met, on Nov. 4, 2025, KSU cruised to an 85-36 win in Nichols' debut outing. Freshly arrived from IU Indianapolis, Nichols scored a team-high 20 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Kelly is 5-0 all-time against the Hawks, having faced them as an assistant coach at Chattanooga (2024-25), Valdosta State (2019-20) and Florida Southern (2017-18, 2018-19).
KNOW THE FOE
Shorter will also debut a first-year head coach in Monday's game. Marcus Hunt Jr. took the helm of the Hawks following a 2025-26 season in which Shorter went 17-12 (14-6) and finished first in the Conference Carolinas Southwest Division.
The Hawks were picked to finish 10
th in the 16-team Conference Carolinas preseason poll. Shorter guards Raegan Byrd, Allison Farr and Kaela Ward were each recognized on the league's preseason player watchlist.
The Champions Fund
The Champions Fund is a newly created, 100% tax-deductible, philanthropic opportunity to contribute strategic revenue to Kennesaw State Athletics, with the goal of strengthening our ability to recruit and retain top-tier talent in this new era of collegiate athletics. Contributions to the Champions Fund will help aid in funding student-athlete recruitment and retention, as well as helping the Owls provide competitive excellence through investments in coaching, travel and facilities. The fund will also give an elevated student-athlete experience, including enhanced academic, nutrition, wellness and leadership programs. Donate to the Champions Fund here and help us support our Kennesaw State Owls.
