Women's Basketball
Rust College Women's Basketball Season Concludes with a Hard-Fought Tournament Run
March 03, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Bearcats Women's Basketball team wrapped up an eventful season with a bittersweet finish in the inaugural HBCUAC Athletic Conference Tournament. As the 7th-seed team, the Bearcats battled fiercely in the second round against 2nd-seed Dillard University, ultimately falling 57-59 in a nail-biting contest. The game remained close throughout until the final 30 seconds, when a series of costly turnovers allowed Dillard to build a lead and seal the victory with critical free throws.
Rust College’s Patsy Johnson Named HBCUAC Women's Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
January 23, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – Rust College Women’s Basketball star Patsy Johnson has been named the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Offensive Player of the Week for the week of January 13-19 following a string of dominant performances. This marks Johnson’s first Player of the Week honor this season, further establishing her as one of the conference’s top offensive threats.
Rust College’s Michaela Payton Named HBCUAC Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
January 15, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – Rust College Women’s Basketball standout Michaela Payton has been named the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Defensive Player of the Week for the week of January 6-12. Payton’s stellar defensive performances helped secure her second conference award of the season, solidifying her as one of the league's premier players.
Rust College Women’s Basketball Dominates in First HBCUAC Crossover Pod Series
January 08, 2025
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – The Rust College Women’s Basketball team made a statement during their first HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) crossover pod series, held from December 14 through December 17 in Wilberforce, Ohio. The Lady Bearcats won two out of three games, showcasing their skill and determination as they climbed to 8th in the conference standings with an overall record of 5-8.
Rust College Women’s Basketball Announces 2024-2025 Season Schedule and Ticket Options in New HBCU Athletic Conference
November 04, 2024
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS – Rust College Women’s Basketball is thrilled to announce its official 2024-2025 season schedule as the program transitions into the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), a dynamic and competitive league comprised of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities. After years of success in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC), including capturing three consecutive tournament championships, Rust College now brings its elite talent and tradition to this new stage.
Rust College Names Jaleesa Sams as New Head Women’s Basketball Coach
October 23, 2024
Rust College is proud to announce the appointment of Jaleesa Sams as the new Head Women’s Basketball Coach for the Bearcats. With an impressive background in both playing and coaching, Sams brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the program, ready to build on the team’s success and guide student-athletes to new heights.
Coach Jackson Lands On Achieving Coaching Excellence Honor Roll For Second Straight Season
April 20, 2024
The Rust College women's basketball program is grateful to be led by one of the best Head Coaches in the NAIA and one who is equally as proud of his alma mater, as Head Coach Eric Jackson Jr. made the Achieving Coaching Excellence Honor Roll in back-to-back campaigns per the release for 2024.
Women's Basketball Final Game Notes (2023-24)
March 16, 2024
#7 Dakota Wesleyan Bounces #10 Rust In Opening Round Of NAIA Tournament
March 16, 2024
The #10 seed Rust College women's basketball program will go down in the record books despite the disappointing end to the campaign as they finish with the most wins in school history, ending the season with a 28-4 (87.5%) overall record after falling to the #7 seed Dakota Wesleyan in the NAIA Opening Round, 86-75 on Friday night.
Women’s Basketball Heads To Dubuque, Iowa As #10 Seed In Duer Quadrant
March 08, 2024
The Rust College women’s basketball program will make its way to the Hawkeye State for this year’s edition of the NAIA National Tournament as the Lady Bearcats landed in the Duer Quadrant for the second straight season and were given the tenth seed.
We Are The Champions . . . AGAIN!!!!
March 03, 2024
The #1 seed Rust College women's basketball program continues to build and grow its ever-expanding run of dominance as the Lady Bearcats sailed to their third consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Championship as well as its 15th straight victory overall in an all-around impressive display of depth, pummeling #3 seed Fisk in the title game, 67-39.
Top-Seeded Ladies Will Get A Chance To Three-Peat As Tournament Champions
March 02, 2024
The #1 Rust College women's basketball program will attempt to make it back-to-back-to-back GCAC Tournament Championships on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. after fighting off the #4 Dillard Bleu Devils for a 73-57 victory in the semifinals.
Sweats, McGuire & Coach Jackson Jr. Honored With GCAC Accolades
March 01, 2024
The Rust College women’s basketball program landed a pair of players and their leader on the All-GCAC postseason teams as Diamond Sweats made two separate teams and won an individual award, Niya McGuire earned an All-GCAC First Team selection, and Eric Jackson Jr. claimed another Coach of the Year plaque.
#1 Lady Bearcats Fend Off Pesky #8 Bulldogs, Breakaway In Second Half
February 29, 2024
The Rust College women's basketball program advanced past the GCAC Quarterfinals for the third consecutive campaign as they withstood a closer than expected halftime score, catapulting past Tougaloo College on the strength of a 26-6 third quarter to ultimately win comfortably, 77-49.
Women's Basketball Game Notes at GCAC Tournament (2023-24)
February 29, 2024
Lady Bearcats Vanquish Fisk To Earn Outright Crown & Auto-Bid
February 27, 2024
The Rust College women's basketball program is going to the NAIA Tournament for the fourth time in the past five seasons as they dispatched Fisk, who would’ve claimed a share of the title with a win, by a final of 68-59 to four-peat as GCAC Regular Season champions.