Rust, Talladega Head to NAIA Women’s Basketball Opening Round After HBCUAC Championship Run

NEW ORLEANS — The road to the national tournament continues for Rust College and Talladega College after strong showings in the 2026 Hope Credit Union HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Conference champion Rust and tournament finalist Talladega both earned spots in the 2026 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship Opening Round, continuing the HBCUAC’s presence on the national stage.

Rust secured the league’s automatic bid after capturing the 2026 HBCUAC championship. The Lady Bearcats enter the tournament as the No. 16 seed in the Naismith Quadrant and will face No. 1 seed and host Freed-Hardeman University at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Rust’s championship run included dominant victories in the early rounds before a dramatic semifinal comeback against Oakwood University. The Lady Bearcats rallied from a 15-point deficit to secure the win before defeating Talladega 67–60 in the championship game to claim the conference title.

The appearance marks Rust’s fifth trip to the NAIA National Championship. The Lady Bearcats hold a 2–3 record in tournament play and most recently advanced to the second round in 2023. The winner of Friday’s matchup will move on to face the winner between No. 8 Langston and No. 9 Bethel (Ind.) on Saturday.

Talladega also earned a place in the national tournament and enters the Opening Round as the No. 16 seed in the Duer Quadrant. The Tornadoes will face No. 1 seed and host Bethel University (Tenn.) at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Talladega advanced to the HBCUAC championship game behind one of the conference’s top defensive performances during the tournament. The Tornadoes dominated Philander Smith University in the quarterfinals and rallied past West Division No. 1 seed Wiley University in the semifinals to reach the title game.

The national appearance marks the seventh in program history for Talladega and the first since 2022. The Tornadoes hold a 2–6 record in NAIA Championship games and reached the second round during their most recent appearance.

Both programs now look to extend their seasons and represent the HBCUAC on the national stage in the NAIA tournament.