On Thursday, the spotlight of March shifts squarely onto HBCU women’s basketball
It all starts with Southern in the NCAA Tournament First Four and SWAC regular season champion Alabama A&M stepping onto the postseason stage in the WBIT, each carrying its conference’s hopes into prime time.
Southern (17–13, 12–6) arrives in the tournament with momentum after rolling through the SWAC Tournament with an upset win over conference regular-season winner Alabama A&M in the semifinals before dispatching Alabama State in the championship game to reach March for the second straight season.
“We’re all really excited to see how much hard work we put in the entire season and know that we deserve to be here as much as anybody else,” said Jocelyn Tate.
Southern players to watch
*DeMya Porter gives Southern a reliable interior option, shooting 52.9% from the field while averaging 9.7 points, making her a focal point in the half-court against Samford’s front line.
*Olivia Delancy stretches the floor on the perimeter, knocking down an average of two 3-pointers over her last 10 games.
*Jocelyn Tate anchors the glass at 5.6 rebounds per game, driving a Southern group that sits eighth in the SWAC at 31.7 boards.
What to know about Samford
Samford is the only team in the NCAA Tournament that features a losing record at 16-18. The Bulldogs were Cinderellas in the SoCon Tournament, knocking off the No. 1 seed in the championship game to earn a spot in the field of 68.
Samford players to watch
*Kaylee Yarbrough leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 12.2 points per game on 41.8% shooting.
*Francie Morris has been Samford’s hot hand lately, averaging 13.8 points over the last 10 games.
*Emily Bowman stabilizes Samford on the boards at 5.3 rebounds per game, key for a team that ranks eighth in the SoCon at 27.5 rebounds.
Spread: Southern -3.5 (ESPN)
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Network: ESPN 2
SWAC regular-season champions face Big 12 opponent
Alabama A&M, which won 20 games for the second straight season, will continue its historic season in the WBIT versus BYU on Thursday night. The Bulldogs ended the regular season on a school record 17-game winning streak before losing in the SWAC Tournament semifinals.
What to know about BYU
The Cougars (22-11) are in the postseason for the first time since 2024, when BYU played in the inaugural WBIT. They enter the tournament as a No. 1 seed after losing in the Big 12 Tournament.
Alabama A&M players to watch
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Kalia Walker – Walker is Alabama A&M’s leading scorer, averaging 14.6 points per game and serving as the primary perimeter creator in the Bulldogs’ offense.
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Alisha Wilson – Wilson controls the paint with a team-best 9.7 rebounds per game while also leading the Bulldogs in steals at 2.2 per contest, making her a two-way anchor.
BYU players to watch
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Delaney Gibb – Gibb provides floor spacing and playmaking, ranking among BYU’s leaders in made 3-pointers and free-throw percentage while also contributing as a primary ball handler.
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Lara Rohkohl – Rohkohl stabilizes the frontcourt, ranking among the Big 12 leaders in blocked shots at 1.4 per game and giving BYU a rim-protecting presence that pairs with its strong team rebounding.
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Network: ESPN+
