Women’s results
WSSU 71, Bluefield State 49
The Rams have proven themselves to be the team to beat this season, affirming their dominance with a sizable win over Bluefield State in the quarterfinal on Wednesday afternoon.
Boasting the No. 1 CIAA status and top-20 national ranking entering the matchup, WSSU is in the midst of a historic season.
Bluefield State nearly went basket for basket with its opponent in the early going as WSSU didn’t begin to pull away until the second half. The Rams led 13-11 after the first and 40-34 at halftime.
A 7-0 run to start the third quarter gave them an 11-point advantage, and from that point the Rams didn’t look back, sustaining an aggressive offensive attack coupled with tenacious defense en route to the big win.
Makayla Waleed recorded 19 points and six rebounds, Jakaiya Mack had 13 and five, and Maia Charles poured in 10 points and nine rebounds, catapulting WSSU to a 22-point defeat of the Big Blue.
Jasmine Jenkins led the Big Blue with 13 points and six rebounds while Michelle McGee netted 11 points.
WSSU won the rebounding battle, 47-35, while forcing 35 Big Blue turnovers. Next, the Rams will square off against Claflin in the semifinal round.
Bowie State, the No. 1-ranked Northern Division team, took the floor following WSSU’s win.
Maya Garner recorded 13 points and seven boards, senior guard Mia Smith added 11 points and five rebounds the Bulldogs outperformed their opponent in nearly every metric to cruise past Livingstone, 72-51, to advance in the tournament.
They will face the winner of Fayetteville State (the 2025 champs) and Virginia Union on Friday at 6 p.m. in the semifinals.
Conversely, the Bowie State men suffered a season-ending loss, 86-83, to Fayetteville State on Wednesday.
Men’s results
Johnson C. Smith 61, Elizabeth City State 60