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WINSTON-SALEM STATE (28-4) – First-year head coach Tierra Terry led Lady Rams to 16-game win streak, CIAA S. Div. and tourney titles and two wins to reach D2 Atlantic Regional finals before falling to homestanding Indiana (PA) one game short of Elite Eight. Terry was CIAA Coach of the Year. Maia Charles (12.9 ppg., 9.2 rpg.), Naveah Farmer (10.0) and Makayla Waleed (11.0) all-CIAA.
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Miles (25-6) – Under Pete Asmond, Lady Golden Bears ran to SIAC West title (20-4) and handled Lane in SIAC Tourney finals for third consecutive title. Lost to Nova Southeastern in D2 South Regional. Five-three freshman point guard Samarian Franklin (12.4 ppg., league-best 5.3 apg.) drove offense and was all-SIAC first team and tournament’s outstanding player.
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Fayetteville State (21-6) – Finished behind WSSU in CIAA South and in tournament finals. Battled for two OTs before losing in Atlantic Regional to Seton Hill. Talia Trotter (11.1 ppg.) and Ka’Nyah O’Neal (10.0) all-CIAA.
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Edward Waters (23-6) – SIAC Coach of the Year, Eric Jackson Jr., led Tigers to top of SIAC East (21-3) before being blitzed by Albany State in SIAC quarterfinals. Earned NCAA trip where they fell to top seed Alabama-Huntsville in South Regional. Newcomer of the Year Imani Harris (10.9 ppg,), Tan Brown (14.6) and Shcera Fowles (league-best 10.0 rpg.) starred.
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Bowie State (19-8) – Won CIAA North Division title (8-1, 11-5 CIAA) but lost close game to Fayetteville State in CIAA Tournament semifinals. Mia Smith (10.4 ppg.) was Bulldogs’ top scorer.
