SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team opens its 2024-25 campaign by hosting a Conference Challenge (PSAC vs. CIAA) Friday and Saturday at Heiges Field House. The Raiders boast a talented mix of veterans and young players as they look to make noise inside the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division this season.
 

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 Schedule
 
The Raiders first welcome No. 10-ranked Fayetteville State Friday at 3 p.m., followed by Lincoln Saturday at 6 p.m.
 
Following a Nov. 16 non-conference home matchup against Holy Family, SU hits the road to begin its PSAC slate with crossover matchups at Western Division foes IUP (Nov. 22) and Seton Hill (Nov. 23).
 
A highlight of the early portion of the schedule is a Thanksgiving weekend trip to San Antonio, Texas for the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 29-30).
 
The Raiders will also have a four-game homestand spanning the month of December, while three of their final four games of the regular season will take place on the road.
 
 
Coaching Staff
 
Kristy Trn is in her 26th season (and 27th year overall) as the head coach of the Shippensburg University women's basketball program.
 
Trn's 409 career victories are the most in SU Women's Basketball history and rank among the Top 30 for active Division II head coaches. She is a five-time PSAC Divisional Coach of the Year (2001, 2002, 2013, 2017, 2020).
 
Dave Smith returns for his ninth season as the primary assistant coach. He previously spent eight seasons at SU's head coach (1990-98), leading the 1996 team to the NCAA National Championship game.
 
Assistant coach Matt Allen is in his fourth season on the SU coaching staff. Last season, Allen was one of just 32 coaches spanning NCAA Divisions I, II and III who was selected to participate in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Next Generation Institute -- a high-level education program for experienced assistant coaches who aspire to become head coaches in the NCAA.
 
Notes
 
Shippensburg returns eight players, including four starters, and welcomes a group of five newcomers.
 
The returning starters include a pair of seasoned veterans in senior guard Taja Colbert and senior forward Abbie Miller, as well as rising sophomores in guard Bella Chimienti and forward Alexis Buie.
 
Colbert and Chimienti are the Raiders' top returning scorers from last season, having averaged 8.8 and 8.6 points per game, respectively. Miller is the Raiders' top returning rebounder, pulling down 5.9 boards on average to go along with 7.4 points per game.
 
Chimienti (8.6 pts., 3.5 rbs.), Buie (5.7 pts., 3.6 rbs.) and Mia Johnson (5.1 pts., 1.8 rbs.) combined to average 19.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game as freshmen last season.
 
Colbert (83.1%), Miller (82.3%) and Chimienti (75.5%) all shot better than 75% from the free-throw line a season ago.
 
Position Breakdown (This listing is tentative entering the season and subject to change.)
 
Guards (7): Bella Chimienti, Taja Colbert, Abbie Johns, Mia Johnson, Rylee Kraft, Eve Nealon, McKenzie Thomas
 
Forwards (6): Alexis Buie, Makayla Foddrell, Jenna Kasmierski, Abbie Miller, Michelle Olak, Carolina Rodriguez Sanchez
 
Home Breakdown
 
Pennsylvania (7)
Alexis Buie (Harrisburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff)
Bella Chimienti (York, Pa./Central York)
Taja Colbert (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt)
Abbie Johns (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area)
Jenna Kasmierski (Ridgway, Pa./Ridgway Area)
Rylee Kraft (Columbia, Pa./Lancaster Catholic)
Abbie Miller (Camp Hill, Pa./Cumberland Valley)
 
Maryland (2)
Mia Johnson (Waldorf, Md./St. Charles)
McKenzie Thomas (Waldorf, Md./St. Charles)
 
Virgina (1)
Makayla Foddrell (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier)
 
Canada (1)
Michelle Olak (Montreal, Canada/Westtown School (Pa.))
 
Ireland (1)
Eve Nealon (Limerick, Ireland/The Hill School (Pa.)
 
Spain (1)
Carolina Rodriguez Sanchez (Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain/San Jose de Cluny Vigo (Marshalltown CC)