Week 9 of Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Women’s Major Division Top 5 saw a new team enter the mix, with no movement in the rest of the rankings.
5. Southern Jaguars (14-13. 11-5)
After being unranked the previous week, the Jaguars enter the rankings at No.5. Southern went 2-0 last week, beginning with an 80-61 win over Florida A&M on February 26 and following that with a resounding 73-47 shellacking of Bethune-Cookman on February 28. SU wraps the regular season with meetings at Alabama State and Alabama A&M before heading into the SWAC Tournament.
4. Alcorn State Braves (16-11, 13-3)
The Braves of Alcorn State are once again 4th in the weekly poll. In a pair of games last week, Alcorn went 2-0, defeating Texas Southern on the road 68-54 on February 26 and then closing out the week by grinding out a 48-38 win at Prairie View on February 28. The Braves conclude the 2025-26 regular campaign with matchups against Mississippi Valley and UAPB.
3.Norfolk State Spartans (16-12, 11-2)
Just as was the case last week, Norfolk State sits at No.3 in the Week 9 rankings. NSU comes off an unblemished week of work, defeating Morgan State 69-60 on Thursday and then opening up a can on Coppin State, 73-34. The Spartans close out the season with conference leader Howard before heading into MEAC Tournament play.
2.Howard Bison (22-7, 12-1)
The Bison of Howard University remain in the second spot in the weekly rankings. Howard completed another undefeated week with a 75-67 win over Coppin State and then a comfortable 84-65 victory over Morgan State. Winners of 10 straight, Howard concludes the regular season with a showdown against Norfolk State.
1. Alabama A&M (19-9, 15-1)
Alabama A&M remains a fixture atop Dr. Cavil’s Inside the HBCU Sports Lab Major Division Top 5. The Lady Bulldogs took th court just one time last week, defeating in-state rival Alabama State 51-43. AAMU, which has not lost a game since January 1, a 74-72 overtime defeat at the hands of Mississippi Valley State, wraps up its regular season with Grambling on March 3 and Southern on March 5.
Dropped Out: Alabama State Hornets (11-5)
Receiving Votes: UMES Hawks (10-3) -34 Alabama State Hornets (11-5) -33 UAPB (9-7) -17 Jackson State Tigers (9-7) -16 Grambling State Tigers (9-7) -14
