SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team fell to Fayetteville State in its opening game of the Conference Challenge (PSAC vs. CIAA) Friday at Heiges Field House, 52-37.
 
Shippensburg (0-1) was undone by a slow start in its season-opening match to Fayetteville (1-0), an NCAA Tournament team a season ago. The Raiders hung tough with the opposition as the game wore on, playing the Broncos even in the second half, 26-26.
 
Fayetteville's experience and full court pressure defense took the Raiders off their game in the opening stages, helping the Broncos build an early 9-0 advantage. Shippensburg committed 10 turnovers in the first 10 minutes and shot just 15.8 percent from the field in the first half.
 
The two teams combined for just 18 points in a low-scoring second quarter that was capped by Fayetteville's Kelis Carmon sinking a long trey to give the Broncos a commanding 26-11 lead at the break.
 
Shippensburg regrouped at halftime and converted 5-for-10 from the field in the third quarter to chip away at the Fayetteville lead.
 
A 5-0 SU spurt included a fancy up-and-under lay up from Kiara Hardy and trey from Melana Eyer that tightened the gap back to 15, 36-21.
 
The Raiders got to as close as 13 following a sequence of four McKenzie Thomas free throws late in the third, but poor shooting (23.8 percent overall from the field, 10 percent from three) and 28 total turnovers were too much to overcome. 
 
Eyer led the way for Shippensburg with 10 points and seven rebounds in her collegiate debut.
 
Makayla Foddrell shot a team-best 50 percent from the field (4-for-8) for nine points and grabbed five rebounds.
 
Thomas set a new career-high with eight rebounds, including six offensive boards, to along with seven points.
 
KaNyah O'Neal led a balanced Bronco scoring attack with 11 points.
 
The Raiders wrap up play in the 2025 Conference Challenge when they take on Lincoln (Pa.) Saturday at 7 p.m.