Gallery: (11-13-2026) 2026-27 WBB vs. Fayetteville State
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's basketball team came through down the stretch to defeat Fayetteville State in its season opener to conclude day one of the 2026 Conference Challenge (PSAC vs. CIAA) Friday evening at Heiges Field House, 63-60.
Shippensburg (1-0) scored 22 points in the final 15 minutes to stave off Fayetteville State (0-1), an NCAA Tournament qualifier a season ago.
Michelle Olak led the way for Shippensburg with 17 points – including six in the fourth quarter – and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.
Rylee Kraft set new career highs in both points (15) and rebounds (6) in her return to action, as she played her first game in nearly two years.
Kiara Hardy was a third Raider to finish in double figures with an all-around effort that included 10 points, six boards and four steals.
Melana Eyer sank a halfcourt buzzer-beater to give the Raiders a slim 16-15 lead after one quarter of play. SU maintained that early momentum, scoring the first seven points of the second quarter to gain its largest lead, 23-15.
Shippensburg led by five at halftime, 31-26, before seeing the advantage wilt away to start the second half.
A Jahniya Marion three-pointer started an 11-0 Fayetteville State surge to close out the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Raiders shot just 2-for-13 from the field (15.3%) in the frame, resulting in a 45-41 Bronco lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
The Raiders quickly turned the page on their third quarter struggles with a superb stretch run. Back-to-back buckets from Olak – both assisted by
Bella Chimienti – helped SU wrestle back the lead, 51-50, with 5:40 left.
After the Broncos tied it,
Alivia McCaskell drained a timely three – her first collegiate field goal – with 3:05 remaining.
Back-to-back stops defensively, followed by layups from Olak and Kraft inside the final two minutes, opened up a four-point margin. Eyer drained 3-of-4 from the foul line in the final 20 seconds to salt away an outstanding season-opening win.
Eyer finished with nine points, while Chimienti added eight points to go along with seven boards and a team-high five assists. It was also Chimienti's first game back after missing all last season due to injury.
SU shot 19-of-22 (86%) at the free throw line; in last season's loss to FSU, the Raiders shot 15-of-25 (60%). Shippensburg only exceed 86 percent at the free-throw line twice last season.
Marion paced the Broncos with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting for the field.
The Raiders conclude play in the Conference Challenge against Shaw Saturday at 6 p.m.
