Posted: Feb 21, 2026
Women's Basketball claims HBCUAC West Top Seed in shootout over Paul Quinn
Playing in her final home game, Daviunia Jones hit two shots in the fourth quarter, which helped Wiley University women's basketball rally in the fourth quarter for a 103-97 victory over Paul Quinn College to claim the top seed in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) West Division Thursday at Alumni Gymnasium.
The Lady Wildcats (15-7, 9-3 HBCUAC) clinch a No. 1 seed in a conference tournament for the first time since 2014, when they earned the top seed in the Red RIver Athletic Conference championship. It's their first victory over Paul Quinn since January 27, 2017, snapping a nine-game losing streak against the Tigers. The win also equals Wiley's highest win total under head coach DeWitt Mandley.
Wiley trailed 66-64 in the fourth quarter. It fell behind by as many as six with 7:11 left. Moriah Burley cut the lead in half with a 3-pointer. Jones gave the Lady Wildcats their first lead of the quarter with a layup with 3:14 remaining. Paul Quinn took the lead back. Keimora Banks put Wiley back in front with a layup. Burley got a steal. Kendall Campbell set up Jones for a layup to increase the margin to three. The Tigers tied it on a jumper-and-one.
Jessica Nerestant put Wiley up for good with a layup. Following a Paul Quinn miss, Alexis Foster made a layup-and-one to increase the margin to five.
The Lady Wildcats led 43-41 at halftime after trailing by five at the end of the first quarter. Brandy Jones scored 11 points on three 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the quarter, giving Wiley a four-point lead. Paul Quinn bounced back and took a two-minute lead with a minute remaining. Cailan Hale was fouled and made both free throws to tie the game. Kelechi Dike put Wiley ahead with a layup.
Jones led Wiley with 23 points. She hit five 3-pointers and contributed defensively with five steals. Foster followed with 18 points, providing a team-high seven assists. Burley added 17 points, three assists and two steals.
Wiley earns a bye to the quarterfinals of the HBCUAC 2026 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship at Stillman College's Birthright Alumni Hall in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It will await the winner of East No. 4 seed and West No. 5 seed at noon on February 26.
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).
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).
FOLLOW THE WILDCATS
Facebook: /WileyAthletics
Instagram: @wileyuniversityathletics, @wiley_wbb
YouTube: /c/Wiley Wildcats