Lady Dawgs Host Johnson University in Nonconference Clash

Game 22: Johnson University Royals at Fisk University Lady Bulldogs (8-13)

Date/Time: Wednesday January 29, 2025, 5 p.m. (CST)

Watch: UEN Network/Fisk Athletics YouTube Page

Location: Henderson A. Johnson Arena – Fisk University

NASHVILLE (JANUARY 26, 2025) – The Fisk University Lady Bulldogs will host the Johnson University Royals in nonconference action from Nashville. This will be the second meeting this year. Johnson won the first match-up 73-59 in Knoxville, in a sloppy game that both teams combined for 39 turnovers.

Keeli Burton Oliver led Fisk with 15 points and Mya Robinson had her highest output of the season with 14. Hannah Jones paced a balanced Royal attack that saw four players reach double figures with 20 points.

Fisk led at the half 32-29, but Johnson came out of the locker room with a vengeance, outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 35-13 in the third quarter to put the game away.

Key Matchup

Jones made it tough on the Fisk frontcourt, using her quickness to get to the rim, while also converting in midrange in the December game. She shot 9-of-15 from the field and is shooting 54 percent from the field for the season. Fisk might have to use a quicker defender to slow her down. This may be a game for A'Niya Young to play huge on the defensive end.

WMG Pick2Click

Jayla Bibbs is getting close to being back 100 percent after suffering an upper body injury in December. She played well last week and earned the HBCUAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. It was her third time getting the award.

Lady Dawgs at A Glance

Bibbs and Burton-Oliver Receive Conference Weekly Award

Jayla Bibbs and Keeli Burton-Oliver played last week helped Fisk to go 2-0 on the road. Their play earned them weekly conference honors. For the third time this season, Bibbs was named the HBCUAC Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 11 rebounds with nine defensive, 2.5 steals and two blocks per game.

Burton-Oliver garnered her second Newcomer of the Week honor. She notched two double-digit scoring games to give her seven consecutive. In Thursday's game against Talladega, she scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds, blocked six shots and stole the ball three times. She tallied 21 points and six rebounds in a victory over Voorhees on Saturday. Burton-Oliver has increased her scoring average to 11 points per game.

Senior Leadership

The days of college players playing for four years at one school have become a loss art. The Fisk Women's Basketball Team has done a pretty good job of keeping players in school through their eligibility. With a mixture of returning players and transfers, Fisk started the season with nine seniors on their roster. The team heads into the second semester with seven.

Mia Robinson, Dee Scott and A'Niya Young are three holdovers from the highly decorated "Notorious Nine" recruiting class of 2021. They join Jayla Bibbs, Keeli Burton-Oliver, Courtney Lumpkins, and Ami McClow as the seven seniors.

Playing Big

The front court duo of Burton-Oliver and Scott have been a tough tandem in the paint for opponents. Burton-Oliver was named Newcomer of the Week two weeks ago. She scored 20 plus points in two of the three games that week. Scott has been a force on the defensive end and has raised her scoring average to 10.2 points per game.  

UP NEXT: The Lady Bulldogs will be off until Thursday February 6, when they travel to Ohio to take on Wilberforce.