Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Week 12 Women’s Major Division Top 5 Rankings

Week 12 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Women’s Major Division Top 5 rankings featured one new addition, with minimal movement among the remaining four programs. As postseason play wraps up across multiple tournaments, each team’s final impression played a role in shaping this week’s poll. 5. Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (20–15, 11–3) The Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks enter the rankings at No. 5 after being unranked a week ago. UMES caps off a historic season despite a 61–42 loss to Youngstown State Penguins in the second round…

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Prairie View, Southern Crash the Party as Tennessee State Holds No. 1 in Week 11 HBCU Top 5

March basketball brought chaos—and opportunity—to the HBCU landscape. Conference tournament play reshaped Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Men’s Major Division Top 5 in Week 11, as Prairie View A&M and Southern surged into the rankings behind deep SWAC Tournament runs. While new contenders emerged, the top of the mountain remained unchanged, with Tennessee State continuing its reign as the nation’s top HBCU program heading into the NCAA Tournament. 5. Southern Jaguars (17–17, 11–7) The Jaguars re-enter the rankings after being unranked a week ago, thanks to a strong…

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Howard Rises to No. 1 as Shakeups Define Week 11 HBCU Women’s Major Division Rankings

Movement was the name of the game in Week 11 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Women’s Major Division Top 5, as a new team entered the rankings and nearly every returning program shifted positions from the previous week. 5. Alabama State Hornets (17-15, 12-6) The Hornets are the only team in the Top 5 that did not change position this week. Alabama State made an impressive run through the SWAC Tournament, advancing to the championship game before falling to defending champion Southern, 73-56. 4. Southern Jaguars (19-13,…

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Maryland Eastern Shore takes down Wake Forest 55-48, advances in WNIT

image via UMES Basketball 59 Winner UMES 48 WF Team 1 2 3 4 F UMES 12  15  13  19  59 WF 14  8  13  13  48 SUMMARY WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball team entered its first-ever postseason against Wake Forest in the first round of the WNIT. The Hawks took control early and earned their first-ever postseason win and first-ever win against a power conference opponent, 59-48, against the ACC’s Demon Deacons. THE SCORE Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (20-14)  – 59 Wake Forest Demon…

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Michigan downs Howard 101-80

Courtesy of Ed Hill, retired Sports Information Director, Howard University 80 HOW 101 Winner Mich Team 1 2 F HOW 46  34  80 Mich 50  51  101 Guards Cam Gillus (Falls Church, Va.), Bryce Harris (Brentwood, N.Y.) and Cedric Taylor III (Atlanta) combined for 61 points, but it was not enough to offset a second half scoring surge and bench production as the Howard University men’s basketball team fell, 101-80, to Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Key Bank Center. The Bison came into the game with a nine-game win streak and advanced…

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HBCU History in March Madness: Moments That Changed the Game

With the Tennessee State Tigers men’s basketball team preparing to take the court in the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, the program adds another chapter to the proud legacy of HBCU basketball on college hoops’ biggest stage. Historically Black colleges and universities have long delivered unforgettable moments in the NCAA Tournament—proving time and again that programs outside the traditional power structure can compete, and win, in March Madness. Here’s a look at some of the most defining moments in HBCU tournament history. Texas Western’s Championship Changed College Basketball…

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Bison Break Through: Howard Survives UMBC Rally in First Four Thriller

Image via WTOP News The Howard Bison held off a furious late rally from UMBC to secure an 86-83 victory in the NCAA First Four, marking the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win. UMBC jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, but Howard responded with a 9-0 run to take control early. The Retrievers tied the game at 11 following a three-pointer from DJ Armstrong at the 14:35 mark, but the Bison answered with an 8-0 spurt to go up 19-11. UMBC continued to chip away, cutting the deficit to 31-30…

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North Carolina Central Moves On From Women’s Basketball Head Coach Terrence Baxter

North Carolina Central University has announced a leadership change in its women’s basketball program, signaling a new direction for the Eagles moving forward. Head coach Terrence Baxter will not be retained after three seasons at the helm. “We are thankful to Coach Baxter for his service, leadership, and commitment to North Carolina Central University and our student-athletes,” said Director of Athletics Louis “Skip” Perkins. “We appreciate his contributions to our women’s basketball program and wish him continued success in the future.” Baxter’s final season came in 2025–26, where the Eagles…

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Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU SPorts Lab Week 10 Women’s Major Division Top 5 rankings

Week 10 of Dr.Cavil’s Inside the HBCuU Sports Lab Women’s Major Division Top 5 saw a new team enter the mix , while two other teams changed positions in the rankings. 5.Alabama State Hornets ( 15-14, 12-6) The Hornets of Alabama State enters the pols at No.5 , after being unranked the previous week. Alabama State ended the regular season winning seven of their last ten games and finished tied for third, along with Southern, in the SWAC. 4. Norfolk State Spartans ( 16-13, 11-3) Norfolk State dropped a spot…

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Norfolk State Lady Spartans get WNIT bid

Courtesy of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference For just the second time in program history, the Norfolk State women’s basketball team will participate in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), the organization announced on Friday evening. The full bracket and game times will be revealed Monday, March 16. The appearance marks the Spartans’ first trip to the tournament since the 2021-22 season, when Norfolk State faced Drexel. It also extends NSU’s postseason streak to five consecutive seasons. The Spartans finished the season 18-14 and advanced to the MEAC Championship game for the fifth…

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