BCSN RELEASES FIRST REGULAR SEASON POLL, POW HONORS

The Black College Sports Network has released its first regular season poll for HBCU Women’s Basketball teams in NCAA Division I and NAIA.  With the exception of Lincoln (MO) and Lincoln (PA), NCAA Division II teams have yet to take the court for the 2020-21 season.  Our NAIA rankings include teams that are classified as CCCAA and USCAA.  The poll is based upon a computer formula that factors in items such as wins, losses, strength-of-schedule, and opponent’s rating.  Games played through Sunday, December 7 are utilized to calculate the rankings. 

NCAA Division I is led by North Carolina Central, who defeated Campbell (ranked 278) while losing to North Carolina State (5).  Jackson State has played the toughest schedule of the HBCU women’s teams thus far and comes in at #2 despite losses to two top 100 programs, Mississippi State (17) and Stephen F. Austin (86).  Southern, with the second toughest schedule thus far, edges out Alabama A&M who upset Troy last week.  The Jaguars have lost to two top 100 programs, Kansas State (61) and Oklahoma State (56), and also have a loss to Wichita State (153).  Howard rounds out our top 5 with their victory versus Mount St. Mary (269). 

In the NAIA, Talladega has not played since before Thanksgiving, but has a schedule that is in the top 25% of NAIA women.  They have defeated LSU-Alexandria (65), Bethel, TN (13), and Life (39) while losing to Freed-Hardeman (22).  Florida Memorial has defeated teams rated ahead of them in the NAIA ratings:  Ave Marie (101) and Keiser (81), along with a victory over Warner (117).  The Lady Lions have narrow defeats against Life (39), St. Thomas, FL (34), and Webber International (27), along with a loss against Florida Gulf Coast (NCAA-81).  Philander Smith picked up their first victory of the season versus HBCU Harris-Stowe (82) after dropping two early season games versus LSU-Shreveport (34).  Dillard and Xavier (LA) have not played since before Thanksgiving and will not step onto the hardwood again until after the New Year.  Dillard has a victory against LSU-Alexandria (65) and losses to Loyola-New Orleans (19) and Mobile (41).  Xavier (LA) has its lone victory against William Carey (60) and losses versus Mobile (41) and LSU-Alexandria (65). 

NCAA DIVISION I

(Minimum 1 game played)

 

Rank

Team

Wins

Losses

Previous Rank

1

North Carolina Central

1

1

UR

2

Jackson State

0

2

4

3

Southern

0

3

2

4

Alabama A&M

1

0

UR

5

Howard

1

0

UR

 

NAIA

(Minimum 2 games played)


 





Rank

Team

Wins

Losses

Previous Rank

1

Talladega

3

1

1

2

Florida Memorial

3

4

4

3

Philander Smith

1

2

2

4

Dillard

1

2

4

5

Xavier (LA)

1

2

5

NCAA Division II Polls will be released in January.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

NCAA Women DI

BCSN NCAA DI POW - Jayla Thornton, Howard







Jayla Thornton, Sr., G, Howard (5’9”, Newark, NJ) – Thornton poured in 26 points, 6reb (6-15FG, 5-10 3P, 9-9FT) in a 87-83 win against Mt. St. Mary's for Howard’s first win of the season. 

NAIA Women

BCSN NAIA POW - Rakia Lane, Philander Smith













Rakia Lane, Sr. G, Philander Smith (5’5”, Little Rock, AR) – Lane led Philander Smith to a 78-69 victory over HBCU opponent Harris-Stowe in their only game of the week.  Lane led the Panthers in scoring with 17 points, along with 4 steals, and 5 assists.

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