INDIANA, PA — March 13, 2026 — Fayetteville State saw its season come to a dramatic close Friday night, falling to Seton Hill 88–85 in double overtime at the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex in an NCAA Tournament thriller that swung repeatedly over 50 minutes.
The Broncos finish the year 21–7 overall, while Seton Hill advances at 23–8 after surviving a furious Fayetteville State effort that included multiple late leads and overtime heroics.
Fayetteville State controlled much of the first half, using defensive pressure and transition scoring to build momentum early. The Broncos led 26–17 after the opening quarter and extended the advantage to double figures before halftime, taking a 41–34 lead into the break behind steady offensive execution and rim protection.
That control carried into the third quarter as Fayetteville State opened the half with an aggressive surge. Samiyah Barker and Nyah Wilkins scored inside, Talia Trotter dictated tempo, and the Broncos stretched the margin to 51–36, their largest lead of the night. Fayetteville State continued to answer every Seton Hill push, entering the fourth quarter up 58–52.
Seton Hill responded with urgency in the final period, slowly chipping away behind second‑chance opportunities and timely perimeter shots. Despite clutch baskets from Trotter and transition scores from Zaria Gool, the Griffins tied the game at 63–63 with under four minutes remaining. Fayetteville State reclaimed a five‑point edge late, but Seton Hill closed regulation with a strong finish, tying the game at 69–69 on a Hailee Ford layup with 14 seconds left to force overtime.
The drama continued in the extra periods. Seton Hill struck first in overtime, but Fayetteville State countered with back‑to‑back three‑pointers from Nevaeh Colon to briefly regain the lead. Trotter knocked down two free throws in the final minute to tie the game at 77–77, and Amina Miles delivered a late block to send the contest into a second overtime.
In the final five minutes, the game became a test of toughness and execution. Mia Kalich repeatedly converted inside for Seton Hill, while Fayetteville State answered with free throws and transition baskets to keep the score even at 85–85. Ford broke the tie with a late jumper, and the Griffins sealed the game at the line in the final seconds to escape with the three‑point victory.
Trotter led Fayetteville State with a postseason‑worthy performance, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, along with four steals. Wilkins recorded a double‑double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Miles anchored the defense with 12 rebounds and seven blocks. Barker added 13 points, and Colon chipped in nine, including two critical three‑pointers in overtime.
Seton Hill was led by Hallie Cowan, who scored 23 points with five three‑pointers, and Hailee Ford, who added 21 points and seven rebounds. Kalich delivered a dominant all‑around effort with 19 points, 22 rebounds, eight assists, and seven steals, providing the extra possessions that ultimately proved decisive.
The loss brings an end to a resilient and hard‑fought season for the Broncos, who pushed a physical Seton Hill squad to the brink and battled through both overtime periods before the final outcome was decided. Fayetteville State exits the postseason having competed possession by possession until the final horn, closing the year with a performance that reflected the grit and growth of the program.
