LADY PANTHERS FALL IN HBCUAC TOURNEY

The Philander Smith Lady Panthers' season came to a close on Friday, falling to the Talledega Lady Tornadoes 73-55 in quarterfinal action of the 2026 Hope Credit Union HBCUAC Championship.

The Lady Panthers, under first-year head coach Larena Walker, finished the season with a 15-10 record, 7-5 in conference play.

The Lady Panthers were led in scoring by Samaya Johnson with 11 points, followed by Kaley Wiltz and Miracle Thomas with nine apiece.

Philander Smith defeated the Lady Tornadoes one week earlier in a one-point overtime thriller at home on a Thomas walkoff three-pointer.  However, that was not the case in tournament play, as the Lady Panthers' offense struggled after the first quarter.  The Lady Panthers scored 18 first-quarter points to lead by five to end the first period on the strength of Sidney Townsend and Thomas, both with five points to start the game.  From there, the Lady Panthers went scoreless over the next five and a half minutes of the second quarter as the Lady Tornadoes took a 33-25 lead that they would never relinquish and led 35-31 at the half.  That lead grew to 10 early in the third period, and the Lady Panthers never threatened thereafter.