MEN’S BASKETBALL
Benedict College
Deshawn Bartley (Guard/Junior) was named SIAC Newcomer of the week. Bartley averaged 14 points and 3.5 assists in Benedict’s two wins on the week. The transfer from Columbia College scored a season-high 14 points and dished out five assists in Benedict’s 80-60 victory over Fort Valley State. He followed that with another 14-point effort with two assists and a steal in a 67-60 victory over Allen. Bartley made 17-of-20 (.850) from the free-throw line.
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A victory on Saturday would be the third in a row at home for Lincoln and would give the Blue Tigers their second three-game home win streak of the season.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Fisk University
Fisk Women’s Basketball player Maya Buckhanon (SR/Talladega, AL) earned the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors, as announced by the league office on Tuesday, earning Buckhanon her fifth Player of the Week recognition this season and the third consecutive week in a row.
The Fisk senior led the conference with 60 points and 52 rebounds as the Lady Bulldogs completed the second round of GCAC pod play. “What Maya is doing is extraordinary for our university, women’s basketball program, and the GCAC. But, the most amazing fact is that her teammates are as excited or more excited by her accomplishments. We expect her to continue her dominance throughout the season and post-season play.” said Head Fisk Women’s Basketball Coach Victoria Crawford.
This week, Buckhahon moved up to second in the NAIA in rebounds per game. In addition, she currently holds the #1 spot in the GCAC in points per game, rebounds per game, and field goal percentage.
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North Carolina Central
North Carolina Central (9-11, 3-2) have won three straight games after suffering a 72-67 loss on January 9 at Coppin State. The Eagles will visit Howard on Saturday before making the trip to Norfolk State on Monday.
Kimeira Burks led five players in double figures, scoring 20 points, including draining five 3-pointers. Jerni Kiaku added 15 points, while Kimia Carter tossed in 14. Nia Ford and Kira Lowery registered 13 and 11 points, respectively, as the Eagles shot 40 percent from the field and scored 27 points off 27 UMES turnovers.
The Eagles are averaging 68.8 points per game and are shooting 41.2 percent from the floor. Burks leads the MEAC in three categories (three point percentage, three pointers and three pointers per game), ranking 28th, 30th and 31st nationally.
Norfolk State will get a small break before returning to action on February 11 as the Spartans visit Maryland Eastern Shore. Tip-off against the Hawks is set for 2 p.m.
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Norfolk State University
The Norfolk State University women’s basketball team returns home for a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) games as the Spartans look to get back into the win column after their seven-game winning streak was snapped on Monday night at Morgan State.
The Spartans return to Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall for a pair of conference games as South Carolina State and North Carolina Central come to town. Tip-off against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, while the game time for Monday’s game versus NCCU has been moved to 4 p.m.
Norfolk State enters the weekend riding a 16-game home winning streak, dating back to last season. The last time NSU lost at home was a 54-41 setback to Air Force on November 27, 2021.
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TRACK & FIELD
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) uncovered its men’s & women’s track and field weekly honors where Howard University All-American senior Jessica Wright (Durham, N.C.) received Women’s Track Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week. The announcement came Wednesday afternoon.
At the Carolina Challenge (Jan. 20-21), hosted by the University of South Carolina, Wright finished runner-up in the 400-meter dash, clocking in at a MEAC-best 54.01, which ranks 26th in the nation. Wright also led the 4×400 relay squad to a second-place finish, producing a new school benchmark 3:35.67 (MEAC-best), which sits 11th in the country.
Fellow classmate hurdler Jermanie Byrd (Miami) received honorable mention after taking fifth overall in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, running a 7.96 in the final round, which ranks second-fastest in the league.
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Lincoln University Announces Move to GLVC, Additions of Baseball and Men’s & Women’s Soccer
“This is a significant day for the future of Lincoln University,” said Dr. John Moseley, President of Lincoln University. “This puts us in a position athletically where we’ve leveled the playing field by realigning ourselves with others of similar size and similar fiscal commitment. This will also give us the opportunity to compete and recruit in areas where Lincoln already has a large alumni base.
“This is an historic day for the GLVC,” said Jim Naumovich, Commissioner of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. “It’s the first time in the 45-year history of the conference that we’ve had an HBCU member. Under the leadership of Dr. Moseley, and what he’s done for Lincoln as the university president, and Dr. Wilson with intercollegiate athletics, it will be a great fit. There’s a lot of enthusiasm behind Lincoln University and we’re thrilled to welcome them into the league and begin competition in the fall of 2024.”
The GLVC is currently one of the largest NCAA Division II conferences in the country, featuring 15 schools and 24 sports.
