Intense Crawford Ready for Fourth Ranked IWU
Lady Bulldogs leaned on their coach's intensity all season.
MARION, Indiana – Off the court, Fisk University Head Coach Victoria Crawford is one of the most approachable people around. Get her in a gym with a basketball, and she becomes someone that is intense but fair. Her charming approach has changed the culture at the North Nashville university. Now her team is on the brink of doing something the school has never done. Play in a postseason National Tournament in basketball.
"When I got here, we had to put some things together," said Crawford. "From uniforms to shoes and shooting shirts, we had to start from scratch. I went out into the community and let them know that we needed stuff. I feel my charm was important for us to be able to get some things."
Under Crawford, the team has won 39 games the past two seasons. The most in two years since 1986-1988. The 20 wins this year was the most since 1986. The Lady Bulldogs have a tough task in front of them when they take on the country's fourth ranked team in the country, the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats.
"Some people would think that we would go into this game with nothing to lose but we don't feel that way. They are a great team, but we have played great teams all season. The postseason makes everyone 0-0. Yes, we are happy to be here, but we didn't come all this way to be satisfied for making it."
Game 30: #16 Fisk University (20-9) at #1 Indiana Wesleyan University (27-4)
Date/Time: Friday, March 15 | 11:30 p.m. (CST)
Watch: https://www.team1sports.com/indianawesleyan/
Radio: https://www.thescoreindiana.com/#
Live Stats: https://iwuwildcats.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
Location: Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana
For the NAIA's full release click https://www.naia.org/sports/wbkb/2023-24/Releases/Qualifiers
For more information on the Cramer Quadrant click 2024 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FIRST & SECOND ROUND TOURNAMENT CENTRAL (iwuwildcats.com)
TICKET INFORMATION
All-Tournament Pass
Adult $20
Students (6-17) - $12
Single Day/Game Tickets
Adult - $12
Students (6-17) - $8
Children (5 & under) - Free
Crawford Charisma
Head coach Victoria Crawford has gained a lot of ground in the community after only being in Nashville for a little over a year. She put on a fundraising golf tournament this summer that was well attended. Crawford has crossed with some of the Who's Who of the Nashville scene, including Johari Matthews of the Tennessee Titans, politicians like Deputy Mayor Brenda Haywood, State Representative Dr. Harold Love, and Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry. When she arrived to play at the University of Memphis, she followed Nashville Judge Rachel Bell there.
Maya's Many Accolades
Maya Buckhanon returns this season after being named to the NAIA All-American Second Team. Buckhanon the GCAC two-time Most Valuable and Defensive Player of the Year.
Hanging With Coach Cooper
For the second straight season, Anthony Cooper was named the GCAC Assistant Coach of the Year. Cooper is one of the hottest prospects around the country for a head coaching job.
Eliotti Excels
Junior Laila Eliotti has represented Fisk well on and off the court. The Computer Science major spent part of her last two summers in Seattle, Washington, interning with the Meta University Software Engineering Academy and Zillow.
Zip, Fast and in a Hurry
Senior Zipporah Davis is the lone returner named to the GCAC all-preseason team. She is ranked second in returner scorers on the team at 9.3 ppg. Her quickness on the defensive end will also be depended upon for the Lady Bulldog's success this season.
The Young and The Relentless
Off the court, junior power forward A'Niya Young's smile will light up any room. On the court, her competitive nature is a vast difference from the caring sweet young lady that loves to babysit Crawford's daughter Londyn and loves all kids in general. That tough demeanor might come from her father's side of the family, where she is the only girl and out of six children.
Her older brother Javonta Payton played wide receiver at the University of Tennessee and was in camp with the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. Twin brothers Marek and Mykkell Smith-Banks currently play football, track & field, and wrestle at Bluefield University. and two other brothers, McKinley Young III and McKai Young. She also has two sisters on her mother's side Armani and Alysia Knight,
Young's athletic pedigree is rich as her father McKinley Young Jr. and mother April Johnson both played basketball at Fisk. She wears the number 32 that her mother wore. Young's grandfather McKinley Young Sr. is a former basketball and baseball coach at Fisk, and he is a Hall of Famer at Miles College.
Old Faces, Same Spaces
Some old faces are back on the court for Fisk. After taking a year off, junior post player De'Lesia Scott and classmate power forward Mya Robinson are back in uniform. They, along with A'Niya Young and Eliotti, were part of the Notorious Nine recruiting class of 2021.
Something New
Freshmen Janiesse Armstrong and Jordyn Bailey filled in nicely in their collegiate season. They both showed great court awareness and presence from the point guard position.
Something Borrowed
Jayla Bibbs and Liz Gibbs' names not only rhyme, but when they are on the court together, they have rhythm. Both players won GCAC Newcomer of the Week honors, with Bibbs, a transfer from Fort Scott Community College, winning twice. Bibbs was also named to the GCAC All Defensive Team and All Second Team.
Gibbs, who has been nursing injuries for most of the season, came to Nashville from Austin Peay State University. Fisk also picked up guard Courtney Lumpkins who transferred mid-season from Shorter University
Player of the Week Honors National (2)
Maya Buckhanon – December 12, 2023
Maya Buckhanon – February 20, 2024
Tennessee State Writers Association (3)
Maya Buckhanon – November 21, 2023
Maya Buckhanon – December 12, 2023
Maya Buckhanon – February 20, 2024
Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (8)
Maya Buckhanon – November 20, 2023
Maya Buckhanon – December 4, 2023
Maya Buckhanon – December 12, 2023
Maya Buckhanon – December 19, 2023
Maya Buckhanon – December 26, 2023
Maya Buckhanon – January 9, 2024
Maya Buckhanon – January 15, 2023
Maya Buckhanon – February 19, 2023
GCAC Newcomer of the Week (3)
Jayla Bibbs – December 4, 2023
Liz Gibbs – December 26, 2023
Jayla Bibbs – February 5, 2024
By The Numbers
13.9- Buckhanon rebound per game average is second in the country.
19.2 – Fisk's team rebounding margin that leads the country and is a GCAC record.
532 – Free throws made that lead the GCAC and is third in the nation.
786 – Free throws attempted second the nation.
6 – Players that have scored at least 100 points this season.
83 – Percent that Laila Eliotti shoots from the free throw line.