Dillard, Tougaloo, Fisk claim Week 12 HBCUAC Women's Basketball Awards

Dillard and Tougaloo picked up key HBCUAC wins.

January 19, 2026

NEW ORLEANS - Dillard University forward D'Mya Ferguson garners Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week. Her teammate Davielis Berroa takes home Newcomer of the Week. Tougaloo College forward Makaila Brown captures Defensive Player of the Week. Fisk University guard Ari Branch wins Freshman of the Week. The women were recognized for their performance between January 12-18, the conference announced on Monday.

Ferguson posted 18 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in three contests. She had two 20-plus scoring performances to lead the Lady Bleu Devils to victories over HBCUAC West Division leader Paul Quinn College and Huston-Tillotson University. Ferguson recorded a double-double against Loyola University on January 12. She also added nine assists and eight steals.

Brown recorded 28 rebounds with 16 on defense, five steals and five blocks to lead the Lady Bulldogs to two victories this week. She tallied 11 rebounds with six on defense and six steals in Thursday's victory over Philander Smith University. Against Wiley, she had 17 rebounds with 10 on defense and blocked five shots. Her performance helped Tougaloo keep pace with the top of the HBCUAC West Division. This is Brown's third weekly honor.

Branch put up 18 points on eight made field goals in a tight contested game at Talladega College on Saturday. She added three assists. Branch ranked ninth in the conference with 14.6 points per game. This is Branch's eighth weekly honor.

Berroa averaged 13.3 points, nine rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in three contests last week. She recorded double-doubles against Paul Quinn and Huston-Tillotson, helping the Lady Bleu Devils to two victories. Berroa added five assists and two steals.

Additional women's basketball weekly nominees: Trenisha Adams (Oakwood), Hayley Broussard (Huston-Tillotson), Zaire Brown (Paul Quinn), Wilashia Burleson (Huston-Tillotson), Xaria Culver (Huston-Tillotson), Tamia Dolls (Paul Quinn), Jade Hilliary (Huston-Tillotson), Kayla Lee (Fisk), Canai McPherson (Paul Quinn), Shalayne Morgan (Tougaloo), Ceara Myers (Talladega), Jessica Nerestant (Wiley), Lauren Sutton (Tougaloo), Kayla Terry (Dillard)

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
January 12-18	D'Mya Ferguson, Dillard	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo	Ari Branch, Fisk	Davielis Berroa, Dillard

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.