Voorhees, Wilberforce pair, Fisk take final 2025-26 HBCUAC Women's Basketball Weekly Honors

NEW ORLEANS - Voorhees University guard Shykiera Brown wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week. Wilberforce University guard Jada Hairston takes Defensive Player of the Week. Makaia Smith earns Newcomer of the Week. Ari Branch claims another Freshman of the Week award. The awards are the final weekly awards for the 2025-26 season, the conference announced on Monday.

Brown was a force of nature for Voorhees University this week, averaging a double-double with 17.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per game across three contests. The junior from Florence, South Carolina, saved her best for a thrilling 68-66 victory over Paine College, where she erupted for 24 points and a massive 17 rebounds while shooting over 50% from the field. Throughout the week, Brown proved to be a versatile weapon on both ends of the floor, totaling eight assists and six steals to help lead the Tigers finish the regular season with two wins in three games.

Hairston was dominant defensively as Wilberforce avenged its earlier loss to Simmons, in which she didn't play, pulled down 12 defensive rebounds, 16 total, with two blocks and two steals for the week, she averaged nine rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks.

Smith registered a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double as Wilberforce avenged an earlier loss to Simmons. She averaged 15 points and nine rebounds as the Bulldogs went 2-0 this week. Smith shot 52.2 percent from the floor, 66.7 percent from three point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.

Branch averaged 19 points per game this week with a high of 22 against Wilberforce. She finishes the season with 12 Player of the Week Awards. Branch ranks sixth in the conference with 16.2 points per game.

Additional women's basketball weekly nominees: Hayley Broussard (Huston-Tillotson), Wilashia Burleson (Huston-Tillotson), Talyia Cawthon (Rust), Asia Cochran (Wilberforce), Hannah Cornelious (SUNO), Brayland Ferguson (Tougaloo), Alexis Foster (Wiley), Jordan Harris (SUNO), Markiyah Jefferson (SUNO), Brandy Jones (Wiley), Kayla Lee (Fisk), Shalayne Morgan (Tougaloo), Ceara Myers (Talladega), Jessica Nerestant (Wiley), Dee Scott (Fisk), Destiny Stanford (Huston-Tillotson), Kiersten Usher (Talladega)

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

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.