By: Joseph Hovey
KENNESAW, Ga. — Kennesaw State women's basketball looks to build on its season-opening win over Shorter as it welcomes Clayton State in a matchup set for Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. EST at VyStar Arena.
The Owls extend a special invitation to Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and other youth groups to join them for Youth Night on Wednesday.
Exclusive ticket offers are available for youth groups here.
STARTING STRONG VS. SHORTER
KSU opened its 2026-27 season and the
Tianni Kelly era with a 72-42 win over Shorter at home on Nov. 2.
The new-look Owls rode a 15-0 run to a 26-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back in a wire-to-wire win in which four players scored in double figures, led by
Kaelyn Flowers' career-high 15 points.
KSU's 26 first-quarter points against the Hawks were its most in an opening period since scoring 28 in an 85-73 win at Sam Houston on Jan. 16, 2025.
From the on-court impact of new faces to positive statistical trends, the season opener offered immediate evidence of Kelly's fingerprints on the program.
AN UP-TEMPO ATTACK
Kelly's team showcased its new-look up-tempo offense as it feasted in the fast break with 24 points and a +16 scoring differential. The Owls' 24 fast-break points on Monday were more than they recorded at any point last season.
Despite the high pace of play, KSU also took care of the ball to the tune of just 11 turnovers – its fewest since eight versus UTEP on March 11, 2025.
The Owls recorded 20 assists to 11 turnovers on Monday, with four players tallying three assists or more.
KSU's fast-paced offense capitalized on 20 forced Shorter turnovers with 24 points the other way. The Owls amassed a points-off-turnovers tally of 18 or more only twice in all of 2025-26.
52 PICKUP
KSU controlled the interior on its way to exactly 52 rebounds and 52 paint points against Shorter. Both rebound and paint scoring figures are the most for the Owls since a 94-44 win over Erskine on Nov. 16, 2024.
Having outscored the Hawks 52-18 in the paint, the Owls matched their largest paint point differential achieved last season (+34).
The rebounding effort came from throughout the KSU roster on Monday, with seven players posting three or more boards, led by
Madyson Elliott's career-high 12.
Elliott came off the bench for the Owls and complemented her first-career game of 10-plus rebounds with four points, two assists and a block.
INTRODUCING THE STARTERS
Flowers was KSU's lone 2025-26 starter to retake her place in the starting lineup against Shorter. The junior point guard was accompanied by four newcomers:
Arissa Jenkins,
Riley Talbert,
Cameron Wade and
Tracey Bershers.
Monday's game marked Talbert's fifth-career start, Jenkins' first at the NCAA Division I level and Wade's first of her collegiate career. The season-opener was Bershers' 29th-career collegiate start, but first since the 2023-24 season.
FLOWERS BLOSSOMING
Making her 26
th collegiate start and 25
th as an Owl, Flowers quickly showed versus Shorter why Kelly has entrusted her with the squad's starting point guard role.
The junior from Murfreesboro, Tennessee stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, five rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block. Flowers' Monday outing was her third time leading KSU in scoring, seventh game as an Owl in double figures and fifth with five or more assists.
On-court success mirrors off-court success for the Owls' floor general. Flowers earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District status in recognition of her 4.0 GPA during the 2025-26 season. Even amid navigating a new coaching staff and offense, Flowers continues to maximize her KSU student-athlete experience and is currently
managing two internships as well.
Learn more here.
BERSHERS BACK ON THE FLOOR
After injuries hampered her time at Minnesota in 2025-26, Bershers returned to action and quickly made her presence felt in her KSU debut on Monday.
The sixth-year senior from Glenwood, Arkansas, recorded 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a block in 24 minutes, her most played since logging 29 at North Texas on March 1, 2025, while playing at UAB.
WADE'S RETURN
The Owls' opener marked the first time Wade appeared in a basketball game in two years. Despite earning a 2025 GHSA Region Defensive Player of the Year Award at Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Wade opted to compete in track and field as a freshman at Augusta.
Her long jump, triple jump and 400-meter prowess yielded 2026 Peach Belt Indoor Track and Field Women's Freshman of the Year honors before Wade felt called to return to the court.
Even with the layoff since her last time on the hardwood, Wade earned a spot in the starting lineup in her first game at KSU and made an impact throughout the box score with two points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
OWLS-LAKERS: A LOOK BACK
The Owls and Lakers meet for the 25
th time on Wednesday and for the first time since the two teams were Peach Belt counterparts during KSU's NCAA Division II era. The Lakers won that meeting, 85-71 in Morrow, Georgia, on Feb. 23, 2005.
KSU has dominated the series with an overall record of 20-4, including 10-2 in Kennesaw.
KNOW THE FOE
Wednesday's game serves as an exhibition for Clayton State. The Lakers went 11-17 (8-12) in the Peach Belt Conference in 2025-26 and enter this season picked seventh in the league. Head coach Kaleena Coleman is in her 13
th year leading Clayton State.
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.
