Women's Basketball opens second half against defending GCAC champion

The Wiley University women's basketball team will tip-off the 2024 portion of their schedule against the two-time defending Gulf Coast Athletic Conference champion Rust College at 5 p.m. Thursday in Alumni Gymnasium.

The game will broadcast on HBCU-Plus Channel 115, which is a free application that can be downloaded on a phone, tablet or Smart TV. Live statistics will also be available. Thursday's game will begin a seven-game homestand.

The Lady Wildcats (9-4, 4-1 GCAC) enter the second half tied for second with Fisk University. Their last conference game was on December 9 against Oakwood University. Wiley has played exhibition games against NCAA Division I schools Grambling State University and Prairie View University.

Jamiya Eaddy ranks fourth in the GCAC with 13.9 points per game. She also ranks in the top 10 in field goals made per game (4.7), 3-point field goals made per game (2.3), and steals per game (1.9). Diamond Hawthorne ranks in the top ten in rebounds per game (7.5) and free throws per game (2.6). Kiersten Harris ranks third with (3.5) assists per game.

Rust (12-2, 4-0 GCAC) is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll. It enters Thursday's game on a four-game winning streak with its latest victory over Southern University at New Orleans on December 16. Diamond Sweats ranks third in the GCAC with 15.4 points per game and a 40.8 three-point shooting percentage. She also ranks in the top 10 with 2.4 assists per game. Blesseth Dillingham is second in the GCAC with 3.7 assists per game. She also ranks in the top 10 with 2.4 steals per game.

Following Thursday's game, the Lady Wildcats will host Tougaloo College at 5 p.m. Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs (2-8, 2-3 GCAC) are on a two-game losing streak. They last competed on December 19. Rodreckia Parker leads the GCAC with 5.9 assists per game. She is second on the team with 11.8 points per game. Morgan Williams leads Tougaloo and ranks in the top 10 of the conference with 12 points per game.

Wiley will meet Rust College for the 28th time and third as GCAC opponents. It leads the series 15-12, which dates back to 1988. The Lady Wildcats will face the Lady Bulldogs for the 16th time on Saturday. They have dominated the series 11-4 and won eight of the last 10 matchups.

For more coverage on the Lady Wildcats visit Women's Basketball - Wiley University (wileyathletics.com)

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