Fisk duo, Rust's Bennett garner Week 16 HBCUAC Women's Basketball Awards

These ladies had outstanding performances.

February 16, 2026

NEW ORLEANS - Fisk University guard Kayla Lee wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week. Ari Branch continues her reign as Freshman of the Week. Rust College's Lauren Bennett claims Newcomer of the Week. The women were honored for their performance between February 9-15, the conference announced on Monday.

Lee averaged 31.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in two contests. She recorded two triple doubles with 28 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and seven blocks against Oakwood University on Saturday. She recorded a career-high 35 points against Simmons, adding 11 rebounds and 11 steals. Lee moved up to second in the conference in points per game.

Branch had another productive week averaging 14 points per game with a high of 18 against Oakwood University. Branch is the top scoring freshman in the conference with 16 points per game.

Bennett recorded a double-double with 30 points and 16 rebounds in an 88-77 victory over Stillman College. She added three steals and two blocks. Bennett leads the conference with a 64.7 field goal percentage.

Additional women's basketball weekly nominees: Makaila Brown (Tougaloo), Hayley Broussard (Huston-Tillotson), Wilashia Burleson (Huston-Tillotson), Talyia Cawthon (Rust), Constance Chaplin (Wilberforce), Asia Cochran (Wilberforce), Xaria Culver (Huston-Tillotson), Kelechi Dike (Wiley), Alexis Foster (Wiley), Jada Hairston (Wilberforce), Jordan Harris (Stillman), Markiyah Jefferson (SUNO), Patsy Johnson (Rust), Sommer Joseph (Voorhees), Ashlyn Kimble (Philander Smith), Jaida Minter (Stillman), Shalayne Morgan (Tougaloo), Ceara Myers (Talladega), Jessica Nerestant (Wiley), Tierra Sylvas (SUNO), Miracle Thomas (Philander Smith), Kiersten Usher (Talladega)

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
Jan. 12-18	D'Mya Ferguson, Dillard	Makaila Brown, Tougaloo	Ari Branch, Fisk	Davielis Berroa, Dillard
Jan. 18-25	Trenisha Adams, Oakwood	Brayland Ferguson, Tougaloo	N/A	Shalayne Morgan, Tougaloo
Jan. 26-Feb. 1	Tamia Dolls, Paul Quinn	Jessica Nerestant, Wiley	Ari Branch, Fisk	Keimora Banks, Wiley
Feb. 2-8	Patsy Johnson, Rust	Kayla Lee, Fisk	Ari Branch, Fisk	Shalayne Morgan, Tougaloo
Feb. 9-15	Kayla Lee, 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.