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, 12-6)
After sitting outside the Top 5 last week, Southern re-enters the rankings at No. 4. The Jaguars surged through the SWAC Tournament and emphatically defended their title with a 73-56 win over Alabama State in the championship game, securing another trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Southern will face SoCon champion Samford in a First Four matchup.
3. Norfolk State Spartans (18-14, 11-3)
Norfolk State climbs one spot to No. 3 this week. The Spartans fell short in their bid for a fourth consecutive MEAC Tournament title, losing 53-46 to top-seeded Howard in the championship game.
While they missed out on an NCAA Tournament berth, the Spartans will continue their postseason run in the WNIT, hosting Loyola Chicago on Saturday at 2 p.m. EST.
2. Alabama A&M Bulldogs (22-10, 17-1)
Alabama A&M slips one spot to No. 2 following a semifinal loss in the SWAC Tournament. The Bulldogs were edged 51-49 by eventual champion Southern, ending both their NCAA Tournament hopes and an impressive 18-game winning streak.
AAMU will now turn its attention to the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT), where it will travel to Provo, Utah, to face No. 1 seed BYU.
1. Howard Bison (26-7, 12-1)
Howard claims the top spot in this week’s rankings after knocking off Norfolk State 53-46 in the MEAC Tournament championship game. The victory snapped the Spartans’ three-year hold on the title and secured the Bison’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022.
As a No. 14 seed, Howard will take on Ohio State in a first-round matchup set for Saturday at 10:30 p.m. CST.
Dropping Out: Alcorn State Braves (17-14, 14-4)
Receiving Votes: UMES Hawks (19-14, 11-3) – 34 Alcorn State Braves (17-13, 14-4) – 33 UAPB Golden Lions (15-16, 10-8) – 17 Jackson State Tigers (12-19, 10-8) – 16 Grambling State Tigers (13-19, 10-8) – 14
