HBCU ORIGINAL
Johnson C. Smith Stuns Lincoln (PA) at the Buzzer in Women’s Basketball Thriller at the Chase Fieldhouse
December 7, 2025 – Wilmington, DE
In front of a lively crowd of over 1,000 fans at the Philadelphia 76ers G-League Affiliate arena, the Chase Fieldhouse, the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls pulled off a dramatic 50–49 buzzer-beater win over Lincoln University (PA).
The electric atmosphere set the stage for what became one of the most exciting finishes of the early CIAA women’s basketball season.
A Tight, Defensive Battle All Afternoon
Both teams brought physical, defense-first energy from the jump. The Golden Bulls held a slim 11–10 first-quarter lead, as both offenses worked to find rhythm against tough half-court pressure.
Lincoln leaned on its standout guard Kaziah Akinniyi, who kept the Lions within striking distance early and ultimately finished with a game-high 18 points.
Golden Bulls Grind Out First-Half Advantage
By halftime, Johnson C. Smith held a 24–20 lead thanks to their aggressiveness on the glass and steady scoring:
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La’Niya Simes – 17 points & 12 rebounds
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Tameia Shaw – 12 points, strong perimeter defense
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Salote Franklin – 7 points, 10 rebounds
The rebounding battle helped the Golden Bulls control the first 20 minutes.
Lincoln’s Third-Quarter Surge
The Lions came roaring back in the third quarter, outscoring Johnson C. Smith 16–13 behind improved ball movement and paint touches.
Riley Holliday’s 11 rebounds and the playmaking of Gibson and Burgess kept Lincoln within one possession heading into the fourth.
The Chase Fieldhouse crowd—packed with Lincoln supporters—began to swell with energy as the Lions closed the gap.
Fourth Quarter: Every Possession Matters
The final 10 minutes were a grind. Lincoln found success at the free-throw line, hitting 7 of 10 in the quarter, while Johnson C. Smith leaned on its defense and interior toughness.
With under 10 seconds left, Lincoln held a 49–48 lead, needing just one final stop.
But the Golden Bulls had other plans.
The Buzzer-Beater That Shocked the Building
Johnson C. Smith inbounded the ball with just seconds remaining. After a quick attack to the right side of the lane, La’Niya Simes got a clean look and banked in a short floater as the buzzer sounded.
The ball dropped through the net, silencing the Lincoln crowd and sending the Golden Bulls bench into a celebration sprint onto the court.
Lincoln’s players could only watch as the officials confirmed the shot counted.
Final Score – Women’s Basketball
Johnson C. Smith University 50
Lincoln University (PA) 49
The loss drops Lincoln to 1–7 (0–1 CIAA), while Johnson C. Smith improves to 3–3 (1–1 CIAA) in early conference play.
The SWAC delivered one of the biggest championship storylines of the season as Jackson State and Florida A&M claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field titles.
Jackson State shocked the conference by capturing the men’s championship, powered by explosive sprint performances and clutch relay execution. The Tigers built momentum throughout the meet and held off late pushes to secure a historic breakthrough title.
On the women’s side, Florida A&M continued its championship tradition, controlling the meet with consistent scoring across sprints, hurdles, and field events. The Rattlers’ depth once again proved decisive as they stayed ahead of a competitive field to claim another SWAC crown.
Two different stories — one breakthrough, one dynasty — defined the SWAC season.
The SIAC championships belonged to Morehouse and Tuskegee as both programs delivered complete team performances to claim the 2026 outdoor track & field titles.
On the men’s side, Morehouse controlled the meet from start to finish, scoring consistently across sprints, distance, and field events to build separation early. The Maroon Tigers maintained their advantage through the final events, sealing another conference championship built on depth and execution.
On the women’s side, Tuskegee continued its dominance with a back-to-back SIAC championship performance. The Golden Tigers delivered strong scoring across sprints, relays, and field events, holding off the field once again to repeat as conference champions.
Together, Morehouse and Tuskegee set the standard in SIAC track & field heading into postseason competition.
The HBCUAC championship meet marked a new era as Voorhees and Dillard claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field titles in defining early conference performances.
Voorhees secured the men’s championship through consistent scoring across sprints, middle distance, and field events, proving to be the most complete team in a tightly contested meet.
Dillard followed on the women’s side with a strong all-around effort, highlighted by relay execution and key individual performances that helped them control the championship race from start to finish.
The HBCUAC now begins its competitive identity with two early benchmark programs setting the standard.
HBCU ORIGINAL
OVC Outdoor Track & Field — Eastern Illinois & Southeast Missouri Take Control, Tennessee State Battles in the Mix
The Ohio Valley Conference delivered a high-level championship meet in Little Rock as Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field titles, while Tennessee State fought to stay inside the top tier.
Eastern Illinois captured the men’s championship with a powerful overall team performance, using depth across sprints, distance, and field events to hold off a competitive field. Southeast Missouri stayed right behind the pace, finishing runner-up behind a balanced scoring attack that kept pressure on throughout the meet.
On the women’s side, Southeast Missouri dominated the field to secure the OVC crown, led by consistent scoring across multiple event groups and a strong closing push in the final sessions. Eastern Illinois again finished near the top, locking in runner-up status and showing its program-wide strength on both sides of competition.
Tennessee State was the key HBCU presence in the conference, finishing in the middle of the standings on both the men’s and women’s side. The Tigers showed flashes in sprints, hurdles, and relays, but lacked the depth needed to break into the championship tier against the OVC’s top programs.
The meet reinforced Southeast Missouri’s growing conference dominance while Eastern Illinois remains a consistent championship contender on both sides.
The MEAC once again ran through two familiar powers as Norfolk State and Howard claimed the 2026 outdoor track & field championships in dominant fashion.
On the men’s side, Norfolk State continued its conference dynasty, securing its fifth straight MEAC outdoor title. The Spartans delivered across sprints, hurdles, and relays, using depth and execution in the final events to separate from the field and close out another championship run.
On the women’s side, Howard extended its own reign of dominance, stacking points across distance races, field events, and relays to secure another MEAC crown. The Bison’s balance and consistency across all disciplines once again proved too much for the rest of the conference.
MEAC dominance remains firmly in the hands of Norfolk State and Howard heading into postseason competition.
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