Wilberforce, Tougaloo, Oakwoood claim Week 9 HBCUAC WBB Honors

Saniya Keys earns her 10th weekly honor, Makaila Brown wins her third and Makyla Tucker garners her first.

December 23, 2024

NEW ORLEANS - December 23, 2024 - Wilberforce University's Makyla Tucker wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Week. Tougaloo College's Makaila Brown takes home Defensive Player of the Week. Oakwood University's Saniya Keys garners Freshman of the Week. The athletes were honored for their performances from December 16-22, the conference announced on Monday.

Tucker averaged 22 points per game to lead Wilberforce to two victories last week. On Monday, she scored a career-high 26 points, hitting five 3-pointers in a 68-56 victory over the University of the Virgin Islands. She hit four 3-pointers and finished with 18 points in a victory over National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III school Central State University. Tucker leads the HBCUAC in 3-pointers made, ranks second in points during conference play and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage.

Brown grabbed 24 rebounds and recorded eight blocks and four steals to lead the Lady Bulldogs to two victories. Sixteen of her 24 rebounds were on the defensive end. She recorded 15 rebounds and a career-high five blocks in a victory over Louisiana Christian University. Brown ranks fourth in the HBCUAC in blocks, fifth in defensive rebounds, seventh in total rebounds and ninth in rebounds per game.

Keys earned her 10th weekly honor. She recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds against Tougaloo College in the HBCUAC Crossover finale. Keys continues to lead the HBCUAC with 18.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.

Additional women's basketball weekly nominees: Trenisha Adams (Oakwood), Morgan Bone (Oakwood), Hannah Boykin-Williams (Stillman), Ty'Shemia Bunkley (Voorhees), Keeli Burton-Oliver (Fisk), Jordan Carter (Virgin Islands), Talyia Cawthon (Rust), Kaelin Davis (Voorhees), Tamia Dolls (Wiley), Brayland Ferguson (Tougaloo), Lelia Henderson (Stillman), Kaylan Jack (SUNO), Patsy Johnson (Rust), DeJaria Lewis (Talladega), Cassidy Lowe (Dillard), Jaida Minter (Stillman), Jessica Nerestant (Wiley), Michaela Payton (Rust), Dreann Pryce (Wilberforce), Tierra Sylvas (SUNO), Teniya Williams (Fisk), Kyren Wilson (SUNO), A'Niya Young (Fisk)

2024-25 Women's Basketball Players of the Week

Date	Offensive	Defensive	Freshman	Newcomer
Oct. 21-27	Dasia Turner, Philander Smith	Elizabeth Camacho, Wiley	Jakhiya Smith, SUNO	Samya Johnson, Philander Smith
Oct. 28-Nov. 3	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Jaida Minter, Stillman
Nov. 4-10	Dasia Turner, Philander Smith	Jayla Bibbs, Fisk	Kyren Wilson, SUNO	Michaela Payton, Rust
Nov. 11-17	Ty'Shemia Bunkley, Voorhees	Nedisha Ford, Voorhees	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	D'Mya Ferguson, Dillard
Nov. 18-24	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	A'Niya Young, Fisk	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo
Nov. 25-Dec. 1	Ari Winston, Philander Smith	Jessica Nerestant, Wiley	Ashlyn Kimble, Philander Smith	Mary Leday, Wiley
Dec. 2-8	Saniya Keys Oakwood	Jayla Bibbs, Fisk	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo
Dec. 9-15	Trenisha Adams, Oakwood	Jessica Nerestant, Wiley	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Skyler Christmas, Dillard
Dec. 16-22	Makyla Tucker, Wilberforce	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo	Saniya Keys, Oakwood	Makyla Tucker, Wilberforce

-HBCUAC-

About 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), Oakwood University (AL), 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 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.