Tougaloo, Fisk capture Week 10 HBCUAC Women's Basketball Honors

Tougaloo and Fisk delivered strong performances during the Holidays.

January 5, 2026

NEW ORLEANS - Tougaloo College forward Brayland Ferguson garners Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week. Makaila Brown takes home Defensive Player of the Week. Fisk University guard Ari Branch scores Freshman of the Week. Harmonie Bolton repeats as Newcomer of the Week. The women were honored for their performance between December 22 and January 4, the conference announced on Monday.

Ferguson put up a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, with six on offense in a tightly contested game against Oakwood University on Saturday. She also added four assists for her first weekly honor this season.

Brown provided 10 defensive rebounds, three blocks and a steal against Oakwood on Saturday. This is her second weekly honor.

Branch posted 15 points and three rebounds per game in two contests. She hit 10 shots and went 10-for-12 from the free throw line. This is Branch's fourth weekly honor.

Bolton averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds and three assists per game in two contests. She scored a career-high 22 points on seven made shots in Monday's game at Williams Baptist University. She also led the team in steals with five.

Additional women's basketball weekly nominees: Lydia Josiah (Oakwood), Kayla Lee (Fisk)

2025-26 HBCUAC Women's Basketball Players of the Week

Date	Offensive	Defensive	Freshman	Newcomer
Oct. 20-26	Brandy Jones, Wiley	Wilhasia Burleson, Huston-Tillotson	Camille Miles, Talladega	Brandy Jones, Wiley
Oct. 27-Nov. 2	Kayla Lee, Fisk	Keshara Romain, Virgin Islands	Katelynn Wilson, SUNO	Keshara Romain, Virgin Islands
Nov. 3-9	Wilashia Burleson, Huston-Tillotson	Wilhasia Burleson, Huston-Tillotson	Katelynn Wilson, SUNO	Jordan Harris, Stillman
Nov. 10-16	Kierra Diggs, Voorhees	Hannah Cornelius, SUNO	Bre'Nai Amos, Tougaloo	Shalayne Morgan, Tougaloo
Nov. 17-23	Patsy Johnson, Rust	Jakhiya Smith, SUNO	Ari Branch, Fisk	Shalayne Morgan, Tougaloo
Nov. 24-30	Kelechi Dike, Wiley	Kelechi Dike, Wiley	Bre'Nai Amos, Tougaloo	Alexis Foster, Wiley
Dec. 1-7	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo	Bre'Nai Amos, Tougaloo	Moriah Burley, Wiley
Dec. 8-14	Jaida Minter, Stillman	Kayla Lee, Fisk	Ari Branch, Fisk	Zaire Brown, Paul Quinn
Dec. 15-21	Ari Branch, Fisk	Kayla Lee, Fisk	Ari Branch, Fisk	Harmonie Bolton, Fisk
Dec. 22-Jan. 4	Brayland Ferguson, Tougaloo	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo	Ari Branch, Fisk	Harmonie Bolton, Fisk

About the 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), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), 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 soccer, 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.