By: Joseph Hovey
Kennesaw State (2-1) at Georgia (3-0)
Athens, GA | Stegeman Coliseum | Wednesday, Nov. 11 | 6:30 p.m. EST | ESPN+
KENNESAW, Ga. — Kennesaw State women's basketball faces its third in-state foe of the season when it travels to Athens on Wednesday for its first meeting with Georgia since 2022.
KSU encountered its first adversity of the season in a 68-28 loss at Florida Atlantic on Nov. 7 after opening the season with a pair of 30-plus-point wins at home over Shorter and Clayton State. The Owls will look to improve on Saturday's performance in the Wednesday night tilt versus the Lady Bulldogs at Stegeman Coliseum.
THE POWER OF EXTRA POSSESSIONS
After finishing its first two games with a combined rebounding margin of +34, KSU fell to -22 on the glass at FAU. Much of KSU's struggles in Boca Raton resulted from collecting just nine offensive rebounds while allowing FAU's 38 defensive boards. Without extra possessions, KSU's 19% field goal shooting was unable to keep up with the host Owls.
Despite Saturday's defeat, KSU has shown rebounding promise behind the early-season performance of
Shania Nichols.
NICHOLS AND BOARDS
Nichols' 7.7 rebounds per game lead the Owls. The senior guard has notched career highs on the glass in each of her last two outings, including her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 boards at FAU.
Nichols currently leads Conference USA in total rebounds (23), ranks second in total defensive boards (18) and third in defensive rebounds per game (6). At 10.3 points per game, Nichols is also a critical piece of KSU's scoring puzzle. Nichols' six total 3-pointers and two per game rank first and third, respectively, among CUSA shooters. In two seasons with Nichols on the roster, the Owls are 7-1 with her as their leading scorer.
SHARING THE BALL, SWIPING THE BALL
Three games into the season, the winning recipe for KSU is clearly sharing and caring for the ball while capitalizing on opponents' turnovers. The Owls were a combined +20 in the turnover margin and +38 in points off turnovers versus Shorter and Clayton State.
KSU currently ranks third in CUSA in fewest turnovers (14.7), second in assists per game (15) and third in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.02). The Owls are the only team in the league with three players ranked in its top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Riley Talbert leads the league and ranks third nationally with nine assists to one turnover.
Tracey Bershers' 3.3 and
Kaelyn Flowers 1.0 rank fifth and ninth, respectively.
Flowers is also disruptive on the defensive end, with her nine steals over three games ranking third in the conference.
FLOWERS AND BERSHERS LEAD THE WAY
Flowers and Bershers join Nichols to complete KSU's scoring trifecta. Each of the three is averaging double figures, with Flowers and Bershers averaging 11.7 and 10.3 points per game, respectively.
Bershers is tied with Flowers for the team lead in assists average (3.3) and ranks fourth in CUSA in field goals made (14). The graduate forward from Glenwood, Arkansas, leads KSU in offensive efficiency, shooting 53.8% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
BOLLIER'S BULLDOG ROOTS
KSU associate head coach
Jon Bollier returns to the roots of his coaching career on Wednesday at Stegeman Coliseum. Bollier broke into coaching as an operations coordinator with the Lady Bulldogs from 2010 to 2013.
After two seasons at Belmont, Bollier returned to Athens as the program's director of player personnel (2015-18), where he helped Georgia to two NCAA Tournaments, a third-place SEC finish and eight All-SEC honors.
HISTORY VERSUS HIGH-MAJORS
Wednesday marks the seventh all-time meeting between the Owls and Lady Bulldogs. Georgia leads the series 6-0, with the last meeting ending in an 89-47 win in Athens on Nov. 16, 2022.
In 55 previous meetings versus high-major foes, KSU has two wins, with the last coming 53-51 over Providence on Dec. 21, 2023, at the West Palm Beach Classic. The Owls also own a 61-60 win against Xavier on Dec. 22, 2014, in Kennesaw.
KNOW THE FOE
Georgia finished 2025-26 at 22-10 (8-8) and seventh in the SEC, earning a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where it fell 82-73 to No. 10 seed Virginia.
Head coach Ayla Guzzardo is in her first season leading the Lady Bulldogs after helming McNeese (2025-26) and Southeastern Louisiana (2017-25).
Picked to finish 13
th in 2026-27 in the SEC Preseason Media Poll, Georgia has opened the season 3-0 with wins over West Georgia (92-53), Winthrop (75-40) and Nicholls (74-48).
Three players are averaging double figures for the Lady Bulldogs: forward Dakota Howard (16.3), guards Milan Brown (11.7) and Nya Smith (11.3).
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.
