Lady Bulldogs Take on Talladega in Quarterfinal Matchup

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- In a win or go home scenario, it is important to have a balance of those that have been there before and those that need the experience to pitch in. For the Fisk University Lady Bulldogs (18-8), it is imperative that they rely on their team's wealth of those that have gone through the stress of the postseason.

"When I look at my roster, I see a lot of those that have been there before," said Fisk Head Coach Victoria Crawford. "We also have some that their eyes might be wide open. Once the ball is tipped, it is just basketball. Hopefully we will play our game."

Six of Crawford's players have Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tournament experience. This will be the third year four senior Zipporah Davis, and juniors Laila Eliotti and A'Niya Young. Davis poured in 32 points as a sophomore in the tournament. Eliotti won a state championship in high school in her junior year, and Young played on two high school teams that made long tournament runs. Maya Buckhanon, Mya Robinson, and De'lesia Scott will be playing for the second time in the tournament.

The Lady Bulldogs come in as the third seed in the GCAC. They will take on the six seeded Talladega College Lady Tornadoes (9-18). Talladega won the previous 13 matchups with Fisk until this season. They have five NAIA tournament berths, most recently in 2022.

This year they are rebuilding but has the GCAC Freshman of the Year Arionna Booker on their roster. Booker averaged 10.4 points per game this season.

The WMG Pick2Click is Maya Buckhanon. Buckhanon is coming off her worse career game in the loss to Rust College when she did not score a field goal and ended up with seven points and eight rebounds.

Crawford Charisma

Head coach Victoria Crawford has gained a lot of ground in the community after only being in Nashville for a little over a year. She put on a fundraising golf tournament this summer that was well attended. Crawford has crossed with some of the Who's Who of the Nashville scene, including Johari Matthews of the Tennessee Titans, politicians like Deputy Mayor Brenda Haywood, State Representative Dr. Harold Love, and Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry. When she arrived to play at the University of Memphis, she followed Nashville Judge Rachel Bell there.

Maya's Many Accolades

Maya Buckhanon returns this season after being named to the NAIA All-American Second Team. Buckhanon was just named for the second straight season the  GCAC Most Valuable and Defensive Player of the Year. So far this season, she has been named the GCAC Player of the Week eight times, the TSWA Player of the Week three, and she was voted as the NAIA National Player of the Week twice.

Hanging With Coach Cooper

Fisk Assistant Coach Anthony Cooper was named the GCAC Assistant Coach of the Year for the second straight year. Cooper is one of the hottest prospects around the country for a head coaching job.

Bibbs' Big Year

Jayla Bibbs had a banner first year at Fisk. She was named GCAC Newcomer of the Week two times. She also earned All GCAC Second Team, and Defensive Team honors. She ended the year second in steals (2.9 a game) and third in rebounds (9.5 a game).

Eliotti Excels

Junior Laila Eliotti has represented Fisk well on and off the court. The Computer Science major spent part of her last two summers in Seattle, Washington, interning with the Meta University Software Engineering Academy and Zillow.

Zip, Fast and in a Hurry

Senior Zipporah Davis is the lone returner named to the GCAC all-preseason team. She is ranked second in returner scorers on the team at 9.3 ppg. Her quickness on the defensive end will also be depended upon for the Lady Bulldog's success this season.

The Young and The Relentless

Off the court, junior power forward A'Niya Young's smile will light up any room. On the court, her competitive nature is a vast difference from the caring sweet young lady that loves to babysit Crawford's daughter Londyn and loves all kids in general. That tough demeanor might come from her father's side of the family, where she is the only girl and out of six children.

Her older brother Javonta Payton played wide receiver at the University of Tennessee and was in camp with the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. Twin brothers Marek and Mykkell Smith-Banks currently play football, track & field, and wrestle at Bluefield University. and two other brothers, McKinley Young III and McKai Young. She also has two sisters on her mother's side Armani and Alysia Knight,

Young's athletic pedigree is rich as her father McKinley Young Jr. and mother April Johnson both played basketball at Fisk. She wears the number 32 that her mother wore. Young's grandfather McKinley Young Sr. is a former basketball and baseball coach at Fisk, and he is a Hall of Famer at Miles College.

Old Faces, Same Spaces

Some old faces are back on the court for Fisk. After taking a year off, junior post player De'Lesia Scott and classmate power forward Mya Robinson are back in uniform. They, along with A'Niya Young and Eliotti, were part of the Notorious Nine recruiting class of 2021.

Something New

Freshmen Janiesse Armstrong and Jordyn Bailey filled in nicely in their collegiate season. They both showed great court awareness and presence from the point guard position.

Something Borrowed

Bibbs and Gibbs' names not only rhyme, but when they are on the court together, they have rhythm. Both players won GCAC Newcomer of the Week honors, with Bibbs, a transfer from Fort Scott Community College, winning twice.

Gibbs, who has been nursing injuries for most of the season, came to Nashville from Austin Peay State University. Fisk also picked up guard Courtney Lumpkins who transferred mid-season.