Fisk, Rust claim Week 11 HBCUAC Women's Basketball Awards

Ari Branch, Kayla Lee and Lauren Bennett put up big numbers.

January 12, 2026

NEW ORLEANS - Fisk University guard Ari Branch wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week. Kayla Lee garners Defensive Player of the Week. Rust College guard Lauren Bennett captures Newcomer of the Week. The women were recognized for their performance between January 5-11, the conference announced on Monday.

Branch averaged 23.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in two games last week. Six of her nine rebounds were on offense and she added three assists and three steals. Branch shot 56.3 percent from the field.

Lee recorded 17 defensive rebounds, 12 steals and six blocks in two games last week. She recorded a double-double against Rust College with nine of her 10 rebounds coming on defense. Lee leads the HBCUAC with 62 steals.

Bennett posted 15.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in two games last week. She recorded a double-double with 24 points and 21 rebounds in an 80-76 victory over Fisk University on Saturday. Bennett also added six assists, four steals and three blocks.

Additional women's basketball weekly nominees: Trenisha Adams (Oakwood), Hayley Broussard (Huston-Tillotson), Makaila Brown (Tougaloo), Shykiera Brown (Voorhees), Wilashia Burleson (Huston-Tillotson), Moriah Burley (Wiley), Talyia Cawthon (Rust), Hannah Cornelious (SUNO), Xaria Culver (Huston-Tillotson), Kelechi Dike (Wiley), Nedisha Ford (Voorhees), Markiya Jefferson (SUNO), Patsy Johnson (Rust), Courtney Lowe (Talladega), Ja'Kalynn McGinnis (Talladega), Shalayne Morgan (Tougaloo), Ceara Myers (Talladega), Lauren Sutton (Tougaloo), Kyren Wilson (SUNO)

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
Jan. 5-11	Ari Branch, Fisk	Kayla Lee, Fisk	Ari Branch, Fisk	Lauren Bennett, Rust

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.