By: Joseph Hovey
KENNESAW, Ga. — Kennesaw State women's basketball head coach
Tianni Kelly announced the completion of her first KSU roster on Tuesday with 10 newcomers joining the Owls for the 2026-27 season.
Kelly's inaugural KSU signing class features four Division I transfers in forwards Tracey Bershers (Minnesota), Kayla Sullivan (Valparaiso) and Toni Warren (Wofford), as well as guard Riley Talbert (UAB).
A pair of junior college transfers join the Owls, with forward Lamarah Cleaves arriving from Jones College (Ellisville, Mississippi) and guard Arissa Jenkins from Shelton State (Tuscaloosa, Alabama).
"The experience these players bring is what excites me most about this incoming class," Kelly said. "We have a group that has competed at a high level and understands what it takes to succeed in college basketball."
True freshmen Nyjae Malikali-El (Baltimore, Maryland) and Uliana Kolesnyk (Munich, Germany) are set to join KSU as well. The Owls' incoming contingent also includes preferred walk-ons Camryn Register (Lawrenceville, Georgia) and Cameron Wade (Valdosta, Georgia).
Kelly's roster is complemented by four key returners from the 2025-26 squad.
Guard
Shania Nichols returns for her senior season at KSU after averaging 9.2 points, shooting 36.6% from three and setting a program record for single-season free-throw percentage at 89.1% in 2025-26. Twenty-four game starter
Kaelyn Flowers and fellow junior
Emaya Lewis also return, as does sophomore guard
Madyson Elliott.
"The combination of our returning players and newcomers gives us a strong foundation and will help accelerate the culture and standard we're building within our program," Kelly said.
Continue reading to learn more about each Owl newcomer.
TRACEY BERSHERS | 6'2 | Gr. | Forward | Glenwood, AR | Minnesota
A sixth-year senior, Bershers has tallied over 500 points and 200 rebounds in 76 career games.
In 2025-26, Bershers was part of a Minnesota 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 for the Golden Gophers, 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.
Bershers began her collegiate career at Oklahoma State in 2021-22, but was limited to three games' action due to injury. Her prep career at Northside High School featured two Arkansas state titles and an all-state selection.
LAMARAH CLEAVES | 6'0 | Jr. | Forward | Tupelo, MS | Jones College
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.
Cleaves' collegiate career began at Mississippi Gulf Coast (Perkinston, Mississippi), where she played in 18 games, averaging 4.8 points and 4.6 rebounds.
An all-state selection out of Tupelo High School, Cleaves' prep career included a 2023 Mississippi State 6A runner-up finish.
ARISSA JENKINS | 5'10 | Jr. | Guard | Haines City, FL | Shelton State
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.
A high school conference player of the year as a senior, Jenkins prepped at Haines City High School in her native Florida.
ULIANA KOLESNYK | 5'11 | Fr. | Forward | Munich, Germany | TS Jahn München
A member of the 2025 FIBA U18 and 2023 U16 German National Teams, Kolesnyk will arrive at KSU in August to further bolster the Owl front court.
Kolesnyk 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.
NYJAE MALIKALI-EL | 5'6 | Fr. | Guard | Baltimore, MD | Pikesville HS
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.
With Malikali-El's help, Pikesville High School brought home three straight state titles from 2023 to 2025.
CAMRYN REGISTER | 5'7 | So. | Guard | Lawrenceville, GA | Samford
Register will join KSU as a preferred walk-on in 2026-27. As a freshman at Samford last season, Register played in nine games and scored a career-high seven points versus Stillman on Nov. 21.
Before beginning her collegiate career with the Bulldogs, Register prepped at Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, Georgia. An All-Region 8-AA selection, Register helped the Lions to two state titles, a runner-up finish and a 93-4 record over three seasons.
KAYLA SULLIVAN | 5'11 | Sr. | Forward | St. Louis, MO | Valparaiso
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.
With 15 double-figure outings, including a 25-point, 5-triple performance, Sullivan helped the Roadrunners to a 24-7 record and Region XVI Tournament Championship in 2024-25.
Sullivan earned all-conference honors as a senior in high school after averaging 11 points and seven rebounds at Lutheran North.
RILEY TALBERT | 5'10 | So. | Guard | Amelia Island, FL | UAB
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.
During her prep career at Bishop Kenny High School, Talbert averaged 10 points and shot 48.2% from the field.
CAMERON WADE | 5'7 | So. | Guard | Valdosta, GA | Augusta
Wade joins KSU as a preferred walk-on in 2026-27 after beginning her collegiate career as a standout track and field athlete at Division II Augusta.
Before winning 2026 Peach Belt Conference Indoor Women's Track and Field Freshman of the Year as a sprinter and jumper with the Jaguars, Wade was a decorated basketball player at Archer High School in Lawrenceville.
As a senior in 2025, Wade was named Region Defensive Player of the Year and All-Region Second Team along with recognition on the Gwinnett Tip-Off Club's January Girls Team of the Month.
TONI WARREN | 5'11 | Jr. | Forward | Canton, GA | Wofford
After two seasons at Wofford, Warren returns home to north Georgia to play at KSU as a junior in 2026-27.
Warren played in 25 games and started 20 for the Terriers last season. The Cherokee High School product averaged 7.8 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 39.7% from the field and 95% from the charity stripe. Her eight double-figure scoring games included a season-best outing at Charlotte on Nov. 22 with a career-high-tying 20 points to go along with seven rebounds and two steals on 9-of-15 from the field. Warren also reeled in a career-high 10 rebounds in a Feb. 21 win over Samford. As a freshman in 2024-25, Warren scored in double figures four times, including a 20-point outing versus Erskine.
Warren's prep career consisted of powering Cherokee to two region titles and two Georgia Elite Eight appearances while earning 2023 Region 5-7A Player of the Year, multiple all-state and all-county honors.
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