The Fayetteville State Broncos have punched their ticket to the CIAA championship sport, coasting breezing previous the Virginia State Trojans for an 86-61 win.
This sport was all about Aniylah Bryant, who in the end took over, ending with 31 factors on an ideal 11-of-11 taking pictures from the sector, together with 5 three-pointers. She additionally had three assists and 4 steals.
Nyak Wilkins got here off the bench to attain 16 factors on 7-of-8 taking pictures and grabbed three steals.
Fayetteville State was answerable for this sport from begin to end, getting its first double-digit within the first seven minutes of the primary quarter, and by no means let up.
Fayetteville State began the sport off scorching, taking pictures 64% from the ground within the first quarter, and by no means let up, ending the sport taking pictures 54%.
CIAA Participant of the 12 months Bryant confirmed why she is a star, powering the Broncos’ offense with an ideal taking pictures efficiency and carrying it over for the rest of the sport.
Although this efficiency was a lot completely different in comparison with the final time Bryant and FSU performed the Trojans, wherein she completed with simply eight factors on 3-of-11 taking pictures, Bryant says this had no bearing on her efficiency at this time.
“The primary sport wasn’t on my thoughts,” stated Bryant. “I belief my teammates, and that wasn’t my sport. It was any individual else’s sport to step up. Tonight, I simply occurred to step up.
Fayetteville State coach Tyreece Brown echoed these sentiments: “We don’t take a look at photographs and percentages as a result of we’re going to get it again. I do know [Aniylah Bryant] will get it again together with her protection. That’s our tradition; we don’t fear about missed photographs. We by no means get on anyone a couple of shot or something. We solely inform them about protection, so there’s confidence in that.
Whereas Fayetteville State can be going to the championship sport, Virginia State’s season ends with a 22-5 general document.
This can be a 10-game enchancment over their 12-16 document final season, the perfect general single-season enchancment of any CIAA workforce this 12 months.
From Coach Nadine Domond’s perspective, her workforce’s turnaround got here when her workforce “put it collectively.”
“We purposely checked out [the CIAA] and what we have to win. You’re speaking about Elizabeth Metropolis, you’re speaking about Fayetteville State, you’re speaking about groups which have gained [the CIAA championship]. You’re wanting on the groups from the previous like Shaw. So for us, we had to take a look at what we have to succeed, and that’s what occurred.”
As well as, this was their first 12 months ending with a successful document because the 2017-2018 season and the primary time they’ve superior to the semifinals of the CIAA match since 2022.
For Fayetteville State, this can be its first CIAA championship look since 2020, after they beat Bowie State to say their first title in 10 years.
They’ll conflict with the reigning champion Elizabeth Metropolis State Vikings, whom they beat 67-63 again in December.
