Posted: Feb 28, 2026
HBCUAC West Champion Women's Basketball ends season in semifinals
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The 2026 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference West Division champion Wiley University women's basketball finish the 2025-26 season in the semifinals of the 2026 Hope Credit Union HBCUAC Basketball Championship for the second consecutive season. It could not hit shots to finish off East No. 2 seed Talladega College in a 53-51 loss on Saturday at Birthright Alumni Hall.
The Lady Wildcats (16-8, 9-3 HBCUAC) finish with their highest overall and conference win total under head coach DeWitt Mandley, who was hired in 2023.
Wiley took the lead in the first quarter on a jump shot by Jessica Nerestant. Brandy Jones, Keimora Banks and Mia Thomas hit jumpers to extend the lead to 14-6. Thomas scored six points and Wiley ended the quarter with an 18-8 lead.
Moriah Burley hit a 3-pointer with 5:49 remaining in the second quarter to increase the lead to 14 points. The Lady Wildcats only hit one field goal the rest of the quarter. Talladega finished the quarter on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 28-22 at halftime.
With 4:50 left in the third quarter, Alexis Foster got a rebound and took it to the basket for a layup. Nerestant got a steal, which set up a 3-pointer for Burley to give the Lady Wildcats a nine-point lead. They went into the fourth quarter with a seven-point advantage.
Wiley shot 4-for-17 in the fourth quarter and didn't hit a 3-pointer. It took nearly four minutes to make a field goal. Talladega was able to cut the margin to one. Jones made a jumper, to increase the lead to three. Every basket, Wiley scored, Talladega was able to answer.
A turnover with 2:49 remaining allowed the Tornadoes to take the lead. The Lady Wildcats missed three potential game-tying or go-ahead baskets. Talladega increased the lead to four. Jones got fouled shooting a 3-pointer and hit two of three foul shots to cut the lead to two. Wiley had an opportunity to tie or win in the final seconds, but couldn't get a shot off.
Jones led the team with 14 points, hitting four shots. Nerestant followed with eight points and a team-high 16 rebounds. Burley provided eight points and three rebounds. The game was the last for Nerestant, Burley, Banks, Daviunia Jones and Mijanae Berry, who will graduate in May.
Several key players are expected to return, including All-HBCUAC nominees Foster, Jones and Dike. Head coach DeWitt Mandley and his assistants Kailyn Watkins and Celebria Peacock will hit the recruiting trail and find freshmen and transfers that will upgrade the roster and give it a better chance to bring home the 2027 HBCUAC Title.
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).
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