Virgin Islands Duo, Oakwood's Keys garner Final 2024-25 HBCUAC WBB Weekly Awards

Maliah LaCour and Kashay Bass helped Virgin Islands win their first game of the season. Saniya Keys wins her 18th weekly honor.

February 24, 2025

NEW ORLEANS - February 24, 2025 - University of the Virgin Islands women's basketball athlete Maliah LaCour claims Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Week. Kashay Bass wins Defensive Player of the Week. Oakwood University's Saniya Keys takes home Freshman of the Week. The women were recognized for their performances between February 17-23, 2025, the conference announced on Monday.

LaCour recorded her second double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds in her final home game of her career - leading the Lady Buccaneers to their first victory of the season with a 67-60 decision over Wiley University. Sixteen of her points came in the second half. She shot 9-for-15 from the field (60 percent).

Bass notched a double-double with 11 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Twelve of her rebounds were on defense. She also contributed four steals and one block, helping the Lady Buccaneers overcome a double-digit halftime deficit. Bass ranks 14th in the conference with 7.4 rebounds per game.

Keys garners her 18th weekly honor. She put up 20 points and seven rebounds to lead the Ambassadors to a 64-55 victory over Talladega College in the regular season finale. She hit nine shots and contributed an assist and steal. She finished the regular season as the HBCUAC leader with 19.2 points and ranked second with 11 rebounds per game.

Additional weekly women's basketball weekly nominees: Trenishia Adams (Oakwood), Morgan Bone (Oakwood), Caitlin Bowling (Voorhees), Shy'Kiera Brown (Voorhees), Keeli Burton-Oliver (Fisk), Kendall Campbell (Wiley), Constance Chaplin (Wilberforce), Skyler Christmas (Dillard), Nedisha Ford (Voorhees), Jada Hairston (Wilberforce), Alyssa Herder (Voorhees), Mary Leday (Wiley), DeJaria Lewis (Talladega), Cassidy Lowe (Dillard), Jaida Minter (Stillman), Farrah Pearson (Stillman), Kashara Preston (Stillman), Teanna Watts (Talladega)

2024-25 Women's Basketball Players of the Week

Date	Offensive	Defensive	Freshman	Newcomer
Oct. 21-27	Dasia Turner, Philander Smith	Elizabeth Camacho, Wiley	Jakhiya Smith, SUNO	Samya Johnson, Philander Smith
Oct. 28-Nov. 3	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Jaida Minter, Stillman
Nov. 4-10	Dasia Turner, Philander Smith	Jayla Bibbs, Fisk	Kyren Wilson, SUNO	Michaela Payton, Rust
Nov. 11-17	Ty'Shemia Bunkley, Voorhees	Nedisha Ford, Voorhees	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	D'Mya Ferguson, Dillard
Nov. 18-24	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	A'Niya Young, Fisk	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo
Nov. 25-Dec. 1	Ari Winston, Philander Smith	Jessica Nerestant, Wiley	Ashlyn Kimble, Philander Smith	Mary Leday, Wiley
Dec. 2-8	Saniya Keys Oakwood	Jayla Bibbs, Fisk	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo
Dec. 9-15	Trenisha Adams, Oakwood	Jessica Nerestant, Wiley	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Skyler Christmas, Dillard
Dec. 16-22	Makyla Tucker, Wilberforce	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Makyla Tucker, Wilberforce
Dec. 23-Jan. 5	Tierra Sylvas, SUNO	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo	Kamaria Murray, Oakwood	DeJaria Lewis, Talladega
Jan. 6-12	Jordan Harris, SUNO	Michaela Payton, Rust	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Keeli Burton-Oliver, Fisk
Jan. 13-19	Patsy Johnson, Rust	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Mary Leday, Wiley
Jan. 20-26	Farrah Pearson, Stillman	Jayla Bibbs, Fisk	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Keeli Burton-Oliver, Fisk
Jan. 27-Feb. 2	Jaida Minter, Stillman	Cassidy Lowe, Dillard	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Jaida Minter, Stillman
Feb. 3-9	Jamariah Turner, Stillman	Cassidy Lowe, Dillard	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Keeli Burton-Oliver, Fisk
Feb. 10-16	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Cassidy Lowe, Dillard	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Keeli Burton-Oliver, Fisk
Feb. 17-23	Maliah LaCour, Virgin Islands	Kashay Bass, Virgin Islands	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Maliah LaCour, Virgin Islands

-HBCUAC-

About HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.