Posted: Jan 07, 2026
Women's Basketball takes on Paul Quinn, Huston-Tillotson in first 2026 action
Wiley University women's basketball begins 2026 with a pair of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) games at Paul Quinn College at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and at Huston-Tillotson University at 1 p.m. Saturday.
These meetings will mark the first time the Lady Wildcats meet the Lady Tigers and Rams in conference play since their final Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) season in 2021-22. Wiley leads the series 20-14 against Paul Quinn but hasn't won since 2016-17. The teams met in the 2008 RRAC Tournament. It is 16-16 against the Rams. The Lady Wildcats lost 65-47 on November 9 in the 2024 Austin Area Urban League HBCU Classic and are 4-6 in their last 10 against Huston-Tillotson. They won in the opening round in the 2020 RRAC Tournament.
The Lady Wildcats (9-2, 4-0 HBCUAC) return to the court after beating the defending HBCUAC postseason champion Philander Smith University 85-69 on December 13 to avenge last season's championship loss. They are off to their best start since 2022-23, when they also won nine of their first 11 games. With the win, Wiley is one of three teams still unbeaten in HBCU Athletic Conference play. This is the second time in three seasons it has opened conference play with four consecutive victories since 2014-15, when it opened with five.
Nationally, Wiley ranks fourth in the nation with 49.9 rebounds per game and 19.2 offensive rebounds per game. Jessica Nerestant and Kelechi Dike share the team lead with 8.3 rebounds per game. Dike leads the team with 3.5 offensive rebounds per contest. The Lady Wildcats are 12th with 24.2 free throw attempts per game. Daviunia Jones and Nerestant led the team with 4.3 attempts per game. Dike leads the Lady Wildcats with 12.1 points per game and is tied for ninth with 5.4 field goals per game.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Lady Tigers (9-3, 4-0 HBCUAC) are tied with the Lady Wildcats and Oakwood University for first in the HBCU Athletic Conference. Three of its four victories were by five points or less. They enter Thursday's game on a three-game winning streak. Canai McPherson leads Paul Quinn with 16.2 points per game and ranks third in the HBCUAC. Zaire Brown follows with 15.5 points and leads the team with 11.4 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the conference.
The Rams (4-8, 0-4 HBCUAC) are searching for their first conference victory. They are coming off a 53-47 victory over Our Lady of the Lake University on December 30, which snapped a seven-game losing streak. Wilashia Burleson leads the HBCUAC with 17.8 points per game and ranks third with 13 rebounds per game. Destiny Stanford ranks second with 55 assists and fifth with 34 steals.
LIVE STREAM
Both games should stream on the Urban Edge Network.
For more coverage on the Lady Wildcats visit https://www.wileyathletics.com/sports/wbkb/index.
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 13 varsity sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field, softball and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
Wiley University sponsors 13 varsity sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field, softball and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
FOLLOW THE WILDCATS
Facebook: /WileyAthletics
Instagram: @wileyuniversityathletics, @wiley_wbb
YouTube: /c/Wiley Wildcats