November 12, 2025 – Sharon, PA – The Penn State Shenango Women's Basketball team showed resilience and fight in its home opener at The Buhl Club on Wednesday night, trimming a large deficit to just five in the fourth quarter before ultimately falling to Thiel, 82–67.

Thiel came out fast, using pressure defense and second-chance points to build a 24–11 lead after the first quarter. Shenango answered with more composure in the second frame, attacking the paint, getting to the free-throw line, and tightening up defensively to win more of the 50–50 plays. By halftime, Shenango had settled in offensively, trailing 42–28 and giving the home crowd plenty to get behind.

The third quarter was where Shenango really started to surge. Alyssa Crankfield and Gabrielle King added key buckets in the lane and from mid-range. Shenango's defense also stepped up, with Crankfield, King, Kayla Owen, and Kimora Roberts coming up with big rebounds and shot contests to limit Thiel's easy looks. Colon capped the quarter with another deep make as Shenango closed the gap to 61–48 heading into the fourth.

In the final period, the Lions made their strongest push of the night. King went to work inside with a series of strong finishes at the rim, Owen drilled a clutch three from the wing, and Colon slashed to the basket in transition. A layup from Crankfield off an offensive rebound pulled Shenango within 68–63 with just over three minutes remaining, sending the home crowd to its feet and forcing Thiel to regroup with a timeout.

Down the stretch, Thiel responded with timely scoring around the rim and at the foul line, using a series of layups and free throws to rebuild a double-digit advantage in the final minutes. Despite the result, Shenango's second-half performance showcased relentless effort, balanced scoring, and multiple defensive stands, all promising signs as the team turns the page toward conference play.

Shenango's attack was paced by the perimeter punch, the interior presence and finishing of King, and the all-around energy of Crankfield, Roberts, Kylie Krupp, Oyin Adio, and Bri Krenzer off the bench. The group's ability to generate turnovers, chase down long rebounds, and string together scoring runs highlighted the depth and potential of this year's squad.

Next Up: "Pack the Fieldhouse" at Penn State Beaver

The Lions now shift their focus to their first conference game of the season:

Penn State Shenango at Penn State Beaver
Tuesday, November 18

6:00 PM

Beaver Fieldhouse – Monaca, PA

To help "Pack the Fieldhouse," Penn State Shenango is providing a free fan bus for students and staff to travel to the game. Sign-up is free, and the first 100 fans to register and ride will receive exclusive "Pack the Fieldhouse" swag.

After a gritty home opener and a furious second-half rally, Shenango heads into conference play determined, battle-tested, and ready to bring that same energy on the road.