No. 6 Wiley, No. 7 Rust prevail in Down to Wire Contests
TUSCALOOSA, ALA. - On the second day of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) 2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship Opening Round, No. 6 seed Wiley University and No. 7 seed Rust College punched their tickets to the quarterfinals in games that came down to the final possessions Wednesday at Stillman College's Birthright Alumni Hall.
WOMEN
No. 6 WILEY UNIVERSITY 78, No. 11 WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY 71
Boxscore
In an exhilarating start to Day 2 of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) 2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship Opening Round, the No. 6 seed Wiley University women's basketball team pulled away in the fourth quarter to claim a 78-71 victory over No. 11 seed Wilberforce University.
The first half saw both teams battling fiercely, but Wiley, led by coach DeWitt Mandley, capitalized on their opponents' missed shots, heading into halftime with a 33-26 lead. Kelechi Dike and Kendall Campbell hit key shots to increase the margin.
The Lady Wildcats led by as many as 10 in the second half. With two minutes left in the third, Wilberforce's defense stepped up and forced four turnovers. A steal by Monica Williams led to a 3-pointer by Laniya Early. Makyla Tucker took the ball away, setting up a layup and-one for Williams, which gave the Lady Bulldogs a 50-49 lead. Mary Leday gave the lead back to Wiley with a 3-pointer at the end of the third.
With the score tied at 56 with 7:07 remaining, Zacyria Dozier hit a jumper. Campbell stole the in-bounds pass and laid it in to give Wiley a four-point lead. She hit two 3-pointers and Celebria Peacock drained a triple off an offensive rebound by Mya Jones to increase the lead to nine.
Campbell, who is in her freshman season, led the Lady Wildcats with 21 points, she hit seven shots, including four three-pointers. Dike followed with 14 points and eight rebounds. Leday tallied 14 points, draining three 3-pointers. Jones led the team with nine rebounds and five assists.
Early powered Wilberforce's offense with 31 points - hitting eight 3-pointers. Jada Hairston recorded a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Tucker supplied five assists while adding four steals.
The Lady Wildcats will face No. 3 seed Tougaloo College in the quarterfinals at 10 a.m. Friday. They split in the regular season with each team winning on their home court.
2025 All-HBCUAC AWARD WINNERS
After the 2 p.m. men's game, the HBCU Athletic Conference announced its 2024-25 All-HBCUAC award winners. For the first time at the conference basketball championship, it presented an academic award the Elite 9 award presented by Bloosky, which is awarded to the men's and women's basketball player with the highest grade-point average. Philander Smith University's Isis Isom won the honor holding a 3.97 grade while studying business administration.
Below are the rest of the award winners
All-Defensive Team
All-HBCUAC Second Team
Jayla Bibbs, Fisk
Ashukamay'ah Phillips, Virgin Islands
All-HBCUAC First Team
Saniya Keys, Oakwood
Cassidy Lowe, Dillard
Keeli Burton-Oliver, Fisk
Assistant Coach of the Year: KaTia May, Stillman
Coach of the Year: Alico Dunk, Stillman
Freshman of the Year: Saniya Keys, Oakwood
Newcomer of the Year: Jaida Minter, Stillman
Defensive Player of the Year: Cassidy Lowe, Dillard
Player of the Year: Saniya Keys, Oakwood
Dillard University was presented with the 2025 HBCUAC Runner-Up Trophy and Stillman College was presented with the 2025 HBCUAC Champion Trophy.
2024-25 HBCUAC Regular Season Champion Stillman College
2024-25 HBCUAC Regular Season Runner-Up Dillard University
WOMEN IN THE LEAGUE AWARDS
In addition to the All-HBCUAC Awards, the conference made a special presentation with Women in the League Awards which is a campaign celebrates the leadership and excellence of
women administrators, coaches, and student-athletes within the HBCUAC. The conference Senior Woman Leaders recognized six individuals.
Oakwood University's Associate Athletic Director of Compliance and Sports Information Director Renee Smith earned the Rising Star Award, honoring her exceptional potential and leadership in the conference.
Talladega College volleyball player Zariah Messick earned the Outstanding Student Athlete Award recognizing her sportsmanship, high GPA, great leadership and being active on her campus.
Fisk University head women's basketball coach Victoria Crawford was awarded the Community Impact Award for her support of her community.
HBCU Athletic Director of Strategic Communications Dani Wright garnered the Leadership Award for demonstrating Outstanding Leadership in women's involvement and representation in athletics.
Voorhees University Senior Woman Leader and Director of Compliance Mary M. Hill took home the Empowerment Award for encouraging others through her achievements, mentorship or advocacy for women in sports.
HBCUAC Commissioner Dr. Kiki Baker-Barnes was honored with the Trailblazer Award recognizing someone that has broken barriers and made new paths for people in sports and placing herself at the forefront of change.
No. 7 RUST COLLEGE 64, No. 10 SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT NEW ORLEANS 61
Boxscore
Birthright Alumni Hall witnessed a nail-biting clash as the No. 7 seed Rust College Lady Bearcats battled their way to a 64-61 victory over the No. 10 seed Southern University at New Orleans Lady Knights in the opening round of the 2025 Hope Credit Union HBCU Athletic Conference Basketball Championship on Wednesday.
SUNO came out firing, establishing an early lead fueled by sharp shooting from Tierra Sylvas and Kaylan Jack. The Lady Knights surged to an 18-9 advantage with just under two minutes remaining in the first quarter, putting Rust on their heels.
However, the Lady Bearcats refused to back down. Taylia Cawthon sparked a Rust resurgence, scoring nine points and racking up three steals to level the score early in the second quarter. With SUNO clinging to a 29-26 lead, Amber Scott's steal and subsequent layup-and-one play tied the game once again. Momentum swung in Rust's favor as Cameryn Morris and Cawthon added buckets, sending the Lady Bearcats into halftime with a 36-31 lead.
SUNO rallied in the third quarter, determined to regain control. Facing a 10-point deficit, Jordan Harris hit a crucial jumper and free throw to narrow the gap. Jack's jumper briefly put SUNO back on top, but the teams entered the decisive fourth quarter deadlocked at 46.
The tension mounted in the final frame. With 2:29 remaining and Rust holding a slim two-point lead, Patsy Johnson's pivotal steal set up a layup for Cawthon. Another SUNO turnover led to a layup by Mykaylah Gray, extending Rust's lead to six and ultimately sealing the victory.
Cawthon delivered a stellar performance for Rust, leading all scorers with 23 points, while also grabbing eight rebounds and collecting five steals. Johnson contributed 10 points, five assists, and three steals, and Michaela Payton dominated the boards with a team-high 10 rebounds, adding eight points.
For SUNO, Jack poured in 22 points, while Harris added 12 points and three steals. Kyren Wilson chipped in with 11 points and seven rebounds, and Jakhiya Smith controlled the glass with 10 rebounds.
With this hard-fought victory, Rust College advances to the quarterfinals, where they will face the formidable No. 2 seed Dillard University at 2 p.m. on Friday. The Lady Bleu Devils were victorious in the regular season meeting 64-60 in Talladega, Ala. on January 6.
THURSDAY'S GAMES
OPENING ROUND
No. 8 Talladega College (9-12) vs. No. 9 Oakwood University (10-14), Noon Live Stats
QUARTERFINALS
No. 4 Philander Smith University (17-10) vs. No. 5 Fisk University (11-16), 4 p.m. Live Stats
-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.