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