BALTIMORE, MD — February 27, 2026

Winston-Salem State left no doubt.

In one of the most dominant performances of the CIAA Women’s Tournament, the Rams (25–3) overwhelmed Claflin (17–9) from start to finish, rolling to a commanding 67–32 semifinal victory Thursday afternoon inside CFG Bank Arena.

Behind a complete two-way performance from Food Lion Player of the Game Nevaeh Farmer, Winston-Salem State punched its ticket to championship Saturday — and sent a clear message to the rest of the conference in the process.

Rams Take Control Early

From the opening possession, Winston-Salem State’s defensive pressure dictated everything.

Farmer opened the scoring with a driving layup, setting the tone for a relentless defensive effort that immediately rattled Claflin. The Rams forced turnovers, contested every shot, and turned defense into offense, sprinting out to a commanding 20–5 first-quarter lead.

Claflin struggled to even get looks at the basket, attempting just six shots in the opening period while committing multiple turnovers against WSSU’s aggressive pressure.

The game’s momentum never shifted back.

Dominance in the Paint

While the perimeter defense fueled the early run, Winston-Salem State controlled the interior behind Maia Charles, who delivered a powerful double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Second-chance points and transition opportunities continued to pile up as the Rams stretched the lead to 37–14 by halftime, firmly in control.

Every rebound, loose ball, and defensive stop seemed to fall WSSU’s way.

Complete Team Performance

The Rams showcased depth throughout the afternoon.

• Breonna Roaf added seven points and three assists while pushing tempo.

• Jakaiya Mack contributed eight points and eight rebounds with physical play inside.

• Bench energy from Amari Baldwin and TaNiya Simms helped maintain defensive intensity and extend the lead.

Meanwhile, Claflin struggled to find answers. Ariel Lucas led the Panthers with nine points, including three three-pointers, while Ashari Lewis added seven. But Winston-Salem State’s pressure proved overwhelming.

Claflin finished just 11-of-37 from the field and committed 26 turnovers — many converted directly into Rams scoring opportunities.

Defense Defines the Statement Win

The numbers reflected total control:

• 38 points in the paint

• 20 points off turnovers

• 44 rebounds

• Season-low 32 points allowed

Even as Claflin attempted a late fourth-quarter push, Winston-Salem State never allowed momentum to shift. Farmer capped the performance with key scoring and playmaking down the stretch, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Winston-Salem State now advances to the CIAA Women’s Basketball Championship Game, returning to the title stage as one of the conference’s most complete teams. The Rams will face Fayetteville State on Saturday at 1:00 PM in Baltimore with the championship on the line.

BALTIMORE, MD — February 27, 2026

Fayetteville State is headed back to championship Saturday — and they earned every second of it.

In a physical, defense-first battle inside CFG Bank Arena, the Broncos (21–4) outlasted Northern Division contender Bowie State (19–8) in a gritty 49–46 CIAA Women’s Basketball semifinal victory Friday evening, punching their ticket to the conference title game.

Leading the charge was Food Lion Player of the Game Nyah Wilkins, whose dominant two-way performance powered Fayetteville State through one of the toughest matchups of the tournament.

Defense Set the Tone Early

From the opening whistle, both teams made it clear this would not be a high-scoring affair.

Wilkins struck first, establishing her presence inside while anchoring a Broncos defense that forced early turnovers and disrupted Bowie State’s rhythm. Fayetteville State leaned into its physical identity, grinding possessions down and controlling the boards.

After one quarter, FSU held a slim 11–10 edge before extending the lead to 26–24 at halftime behind the steady play of guard Talia Trotter.

Trotter controlled tempo throughout the first half, finishing with 10 points, five assists, six rebounds, and five steals in a complete floor-leader performance. Bench contributions from Nevaeh Colon and Taleah Stephens added crucial scoring bursts that helped the Broncos maintain momentum.

Bowie State’s Third-Quarter Surge

The Bulldogs refused to fade.

Bowie State erupted in the third quarter, scoring 19 points behind strong play from Malaka Cobb and Mayah Garner. Transition buckets and timely three-point shooting flipped the game’s energy, giving Bowie State a 43–38 lead — its largest advantage of the night.

Inside the arena, momentum had fully shifted.

But Fayetteville State never panicked.

Broncos Close Like Champions

The fourth quarter belonged to Fayetteville State’s composure.

Colon sparked the comeback early with a deep three-pointer to cut the deficit to two. Moments later, Alivia Evans knocked down a clutch triple from the wing, swinging momentum back toward the Broncos.

Then came the play that changed everything.

With just under three minutes remaining, Trotter jumped a passing lane at midcourt and raced in for a fast-break layup, giving FSU its first lead since early in the third quarter.

Wilkins followed with a powerful finish through contact to extend the advantage and ignite the Broncos bench.

From there, Fayetteville State’s defense sealed the game.

The Broncos held Bowie State without a field goal over the final four minutes, contesting every possession and controlling the glass down the stretch. Trotter added a key free throw with eight seconds remaining to push the lead to three.

Bowie State’s final attempt — a deep buzzer-beating three — bounced off the rim as Fayetteville State celebrated its return to the CIAA Championship.

By the Numbers

• Nyah Wilkins: 13 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists

• Talia Trotter: 10 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds, 5 steals

• Nevaeh Colon: Key fourth-quarter three

• Alivia Evans: Go-ahead three-pointer

Fayetteville State now advances to face Winston-Salem State in Saturday’s CIAA Women’s Basketball Championship Game at 1:00 PM — a rivalry matchup with added stakes after the teams split their regular-season meetings.

Baltimore now sets the stage for a final chapter with a championship on the line.

BALTIMORE, MD — February 27, 2026

Bluefield State is headed to the CIAA Championship — but not without surviving one of the wildest semifinal battles of the tournament.

Inside CFG Bank Arena on Thursday afternoon, the Big Blue (16–14) held off a furious late push from Virginia State (20–10), grinding out a 71–66 victory to punch their ticket to Saturday’s CIAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game.

And at the center of it all was Food Lion Player of the Game Myles Pierre, who delivered a performance built for March.

Big Blue Set the Tone Early

From the opening tip, Bluefield State looked locked in defensively. The Big Blue overwhelmed Virginia State with length, physicality, and relentless rotations, holding the Trojans to just 16 first-half points on 17% shooting.

Every possession felt contested. Every rebound mattered.

On the offensive end, Anthony Davenport provided the spark, knocking down timely shots and finishing with 14 points, including three clutch three-pointers that helped Bluefield State carry a 27–16 lead into halftime.

Meanwhile, Pierre quietly controlled the tempo — attacking the rim, drawing contact, and living at the free-throw line.

Virginia State Storms Back

The second half told a completely different story.

Virginia State came out aggressive, erupting for 50 second-half points and turning the game into a track meet. Jared White ignited the comeback effort off the bench, drilling four three-pointers that energized the Trojan crowd.

Jacob Cooper pushed the pace and attacked downhill, finishing with 12 points as VSU chipped away at what once was a 17-point deficit.

With under four minutes left, the momentum inside the arena had completely shifted.

Back-to-back buckets cut the lead to six. Then another three. Then another.

Suddenly, it was a one-possession game.

Championship Composure

But every time Virginia State threatened, Bluefield State answered.

Ellija Preddy orchestrated the offense with confidence, dishing seven assists while hitting key mid-range shots. Warren Mouganda and Anthony Latty battled inside for second-chance points and critical rebounds, refusing to let the game slip away.

And when the pressure reached its peak, the ball found Pierre.

With seconds ticking down and the Trojans closing fast, Pierre calmly stepped to the free-throw line again and again — and didn’t miss when it mattered most.

He finished an incredible 17-for-18 from the stripe, repeatedly extending Bluefield State’s lead in the final minute.

In the closing seconds, Pierre sealed the moment with a steal, bringing the Bluefield State bench to its feet before Davenport added the final free throw to secure the 71–66 win.

By the Numbers

• Myles Pierre: 23 points, 17-18 FT, 2 steals

• Anthony Davenport: 14 points (3 threes)

• Ellija Preddy: 10 points, 7 assists

• Warren Mouganda: 9 points

• Anthony Latty: 6 points, 8 rebounds

• Tako: 6 points off the bench

Bluefield State now advances to Saturday’s championship matchup, where they will face the winner of tonight’s semifinal between Fayetteville State and Johnson C. Smith — with a CIAA title on the line.

One thing is certain after Thursday’s battle in Baltimore:

The Big Blue proved they can win ugly, survive pressure, and close like champions.

Philadelphia, PA — The Widener Schuylkill Showdown (Jan. 31–Feb. 1, 2026) at the Jane & David Ott Center served as a proving ground for regional indoor track & field talent, and HBCU programs Lincoln University (PA) and Cheyney University (PA) rose to the challenge with standout performances across sprints, hurdles, relays, jumps, middle distance, and throws.

🔥 Lincoln University (PA) Puts HBCU Track on Notice

Lincoln University delivered one of the most complete HBCU performances of the meet, highlighted by elite sprinting, record-setting marks, and relay dominance.

🥇 Men’s 4×400 Meter Relay — MEET HIGHLIGHT

Lincoln’s “A” relay squad (Nasir Scott, Devin James, Sahfi Reed, Carlo Johnson) captured 1st place in 3:14.87, earning:

• Meet win

• New HBCU #11

• New NCAA DII #19

The Lions also showed depth with a “B” relay clocking 3:27.23, while a third squad was entered.

⚡ Sprint Power: Men’s 200m

Lincoln sprinters dominated the 200 meters with nationally ranked HBCU marks:

• Devin James (FR) — 21.78 (New HBCU #52, New DII #75, Season Best)

• Sahfi Reed (SO) — 21.85 (New HBCU #60, New DII #94)

• Carlo Johnson (FR) — 21.87 (PR, New HBCU #64, New DII #98)

This trio solidified Lincoln as one of the fastest HBCU sprint groups indoors.

🏃‍♂️ 400m Strength

• Nasir Scott (SR) — 50.49 (Season Best)

• Lamine Kane (SO) — 51.04

• Malachi Williams (SO) — 52.42

🚧 Hurdles & Jumps

Men’s 60m Hurdles

• Terry McNeil (SR) — 8.44

• Adam Green (JR) — 8.67

• Sayeed Buie (FR) — 8.95

• Jayden Jones (FR) — 9.81

Men’s High Jump

• Adam Green (JR) — 1.83m (6-00.00)

Men’s Long Jump

• Tehuti Cononver (SO) — 6.67m (21-10.75) (New HBCU #69)

• Adam Green (JR) — 6.50m (21-04.00)

🏃‍♀️ Women’s Track Highlights

Women’s 60m

• Darriel Whiting (FR) — 7.90

• Shanna Todman (SO) — 8.52

Women’s 400m

• Dayshana Kellogg (FR) — 59.25

• Kenya Williams (SO) — 1:02.74 (PR)

• Daleeah Alexander (FR) — 1:03.96

• Paris Talley (JR) — 1:04.35

Women’s 800m

• Aniya Whitfield (JR) — 2:31.78

• Eternity Bellamy (SO) — 2:49.25

🏃‍♀️ Distance & Triple Jump Excellence

Men’s Mile

• Thomas Jones (SO) — 4:34.92 (PR, New HBCU #41)

Women’s Mile

• Madison Morgan (SO) — 6:01.69 (New HBCU #70)

• Miranda McLean (JR) — 6:11.36 (New HBCU #80)

• Isabella Wright (SO) — *6:29.02 (PR, New HBCU #88)

Women’s Triple Jump

• Gabrielle Lanier (SO) — 11.27m (36-11.75)
  2nd place | New HBCU #43 | New DII #80 | Season Best

🔁 Women’s 4×400 Relays

• Lincoln “A” — 4:04.26 (New HBCU #28, New DII #86)
  (Whiting, Whitfield, K. Williams, Kellogg)

• Lincoln “B” — 4:13.86

🐺 Cheyney University (PA) Shows Growth & Freshman Impact

Cheyney University competed across sprints, middle distance, jumps, and throws, with freshmen playing key roles.

⭐ Top Highlight

Women’s Long Jump

• Opeyemi Ojo (FR) — 5th place, 5.10m (16-08.75)
  Personal Record

Ojo also doubled on the track:

• Women’s 60m — 8.57

🏃‍♂️ Men’s 800m

• Yasir Logan (FR) — 2:12.16

🏋️ Throws

Men’s Shot Put

• Benjamin Bell (JR) — 8.50m (27-10.75)

Women’s Shot Put

• Kimberly Arias (FR) — 9.46m

• MyAngel Salisbury (FR) — 9.32m

• Demetria Williams (FR) — 6.24m

Cheyney’s participation across multiple disciplines reflects a program building depth and competitive confidence.

FULL RESULTS CLICK LINK 

Tuskegee Coach Benjy Taylor Escorted Off Court in Handcuffs After Postgame Incident

Credit: HBCU Gameday

Tuskegee University men’s basketball coach Benjy Taylor was escorted off the court in handcuffs following a postgame incident Saturday at Morehouse College’s Forbes Arena.

Video shared by HBCU Gameday shows Taylor speaking with a security officer as Tuskegee and Morehouse players exchanged handshakes after the game. Moments later, the officer placed Taylor in handcuffs and led him off the court and into a nearby hallway.

According to statements from Taylor and Tuskegee athletic director Reginald Ruffin, the incident stemmed from Taylor asking security to remove several Morehouse football players from the handshake line. Taylor said the players were “yelling obscenities,” while Ruffin described the situation as a “security breach.”

“I am at a loss for words, and I am upset about how I was violated and treated today,” Taylor said in a statement released Saturday. “For my players, my family and people of Tuskegee to witness that is heartbreaking for me.

“I was simply trying to get the football team out of the handshake line as they were following right behind me and the team yelling obscenities. It was a very dangerous situation.”

Ruffin told HBCU Gameday that the security officer involved provided a different account, claiming Taylor was “very aggressive.” Ruffin said he disagreed with that assessment, citing conference-mandated security protocols and stating that Taylor’s actions were reasonable.

“He asked the security officer, ‘Can you please remove them from the line?’ That’s what he asked,” Ruffin said.

Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels announced Sunday that Taylor has retained him to explore a potential lawsuit. In a statement, Daniels said the Morehouse football players were “acting aggressively” toward Tuskegee players and their families and that their presence on the court violated conference security policies.

“When Coach Taylor asked officers to enforce those protocols and defuse an increasingly dangerous situation, one of the officers instead chose to place him in handcuffs and escort him from the court,” Daniels said.

As of Monday, it was unclear which law enforcement agency the security officer represents. Taylor has not been charged with a crime, according to Daniels’ office. Tuskegee University confirmed that Taylor traveled back with the team following the game.

Taylor, who is in his sixth season as head coach, declined further comment Sunday, telling USA Today, “I am devastated and will have no more comments at this time.”

Tuskegee fell to 15–5 on the season following its 77–69 loss to Morehouse.

“It would be bad for a police officer to treat anyone this way,” Daniels said. “But to do it to a highly respected coach and role model—handcuffing and humiliating him in front of his players, family and fans—is absolutely unacceptable.”