PORTSMOUTH —Shawnee State graduate Cianna Gloster, who was an All-River States Conference selection in both seasons she played with the SSU women’s basketball program, has signed a professional contract to play women’s basketball for Germany’s USV Vimodrom Baskets Jena —the organization announced on Monday.
Gloster was a First-Team all-RSC selection during the 2024-25 season, and led Shawnee State back to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 2021.
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Gloster, who is arguably the best rebounding forward in the history of the Shawnee State women’s basketball program, was a force as the Bears went 48-15 during her time in the lineup.
Gloster averaged 13.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 1.2 blocks over the course of her time at Shawnee State.
She shot 56.1-percent from the field during her Shawnee State career and scored 1,029 career collegiate points — 849 of those coming at Shawnee State in two seasons, after transferring from Rochester Christian (Mich.).
The six-foot forward from Flint, Mich. was named as a First-Team all-RSC selection after averaging 15.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and three steals while shooting 55.4-percent from the field.
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Gloster spearheaded the RSC’s top defensive unit, as the Bears ultimately won as many as 20 consecutive games to run the RSC table during the regular season —while advancing to the 2025 RSC Championship Game.
Gloster then led Shawnee State to an NAIA Opening Round victory over Loyola (La.) 70-62, before dropping a scant 71-66 decision to No. 5-ranked Cumberlands (Ky.) in the NAIA Second Round.
She finished her career as not only a First-Team all-RSC honoree, but a 2025 CSC-NAIA Academic All-District selection —who played in and started each of Shawnee State’s 63 games.
In 43 of those 63 contests, Gloster posted a double-double.
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USV Vimodrom Baskets Jena, which plays in the German Regionalliga League, went 14-0 last season in the league’s SouthEast-North Division —winning the division by five games.
Players which have suited up for USV Vimodrom Baskets Jena include Celeste Mershmister, who played at Rochester Christian and was a former college teammate of Gloster’s, and 6-5 center Marta Miscenko, who was a First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference talent at NCAA Division II Wingate (N.C.).
For more on the Shawnee State women’s basketball program, please visit https://ssubears.com/sports/womens-basketball or https://www.instagram.com/shawneestatebears_wbb/
