TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 4 seed Philander Smith University and No. 6 seed Wiley University each knocked off higher seeds Saturday to advance to the championship game of the 2025 HBCUAC Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship at Birthright Alumni Hall.
No. 4 Philander Smith 62, No. 1 Stillman College 50
Philander Smith jumped out to an early lead and never trailed, defeating top-seeded Stillman College 62-50 to advance to the championship game for the third time in four seasons.
Shaniya Thomas hit a 3-pointer, and Dasia Turner followed with a steal and layup to give the Lady Panthers an early advantage. Philander Smith forced three turnovers and held Stillman to just two field goals in the first quarter, taking a 16-6 lead.
Jade Myles and Thomas hit 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 14 in the second quarter. Stillman responded with a pair of layups by Raena Suggs to cut the deficit to five. Philander Smith answered with a 3-pointer and layup from Myles and a layup from Ashlyn Kimble to push the lead back to 12. The Lady Panthers led 33-23 at halftime.
Stillman (25-5) rallied in the third quarter. Hannah Boykin-Williams hit a jumper, Jamariah Turner added a steal and layup, and Jaida Minter drained a 3-pointer to cut the margin to five. Farrah Pearson hit a free throw after an offensive rebound, trimming the deficit to 43-41 with 1:42 remaining. Myles hit a jumper to push the lead to four entering the fourth quarter.
Philander Smith put the game away with a late run. Turner hit a layup, and Thomas recorded a steal and assist to Samya Johnson for another layup to extend the lead to eight. Stillman managed just two field goals in the fourth quarter and missed all four 3-point attempts. Thomas sealed the win with a 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining.
Thomas led Philander Smith with 19 points off the bench, adding four rebounds and three assists. Turner recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Myles added 10 points and four rebounds.
Suggs paced Stillman with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Pearson finished with 11 points and five rebounds.
Stillman, which secured the regular-season title and an automatic berth into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Women’s Basketball National Championship Opening Round, will learn its opponent and tournament location during the NAIA Selection Show at 6 p.m. Thursday on the Urban Edge Network.
Philander Smith is seeking its first conference title since 2020.
No. 6 Wiley University 48, No. 2 Dillard University 45, OT
Kelechi Dike’s steal and game-tying layup with 27 seconds left forced overtime, and Zacyria Dozier’s 3-pointer in the extra period lifted Wiley University to a 48-45 win over No. 2 seed Dillard University in the semifinals.
Wiley (15-13) led 15-14 at halftime in a defensive battle, with both teams shooting under 30%. Skyler Christmas gave Dillard the lead in the third quarter with a steal and layup, but Celebria Peacock answered for Wiley with a basket off an offensive rebound by Dike.
Dillard led 31-28 entering the fourth quarter after a layup by D’Mya Ferguson. Wiley responded with a 3-pointer by Peacock and free throws by Kendall Campbell to go ahead by four.
Christmas and Ferguson tied the game, and Christmas put Dillard ahead 41-39 with just over two minutes left.
Dike’s layup sent the game to overtime. Jessica Nerestant blocked a potential go-ahead shot from Christmas, and Dike’s fast-break attempt rolled off the rim as time expired.
In overtime, Cassidy Lowe scored first for Dillard. Nerestant tied it, and following a Dillard turnover, Dozier hit her only basket of the game — a 3-pointer with 1:14 left — to give Wiley the lead for good. Dillard had a chance to force double overtime, but Azaria Knox’s jumper fell short.
Nerestant led Wiley with 14 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. Peacock followed with 13 points, hitting three 3-pointers, and Dike grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds.
Christmas led Dillard with 17 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Lowe posted a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Ferguson also added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Wiley advances to the championship game for the first time as a member of the HBCUAC and the first time in program history since winning the 2013 Red River Athletic Conference Tournament.
Philander Smith and Wiley will meet for the HBCUAC title at 4 p.m. Sunday. The winner will earn the league’s second automatic berth into the 2025 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship Opening Round.
