Baltimore, MD – The Broncos are set to play Bluefield State tomorrow, Feb. 28, at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, MD, in the quarterfinals of the 2024 CIAA Basketball Tournament. Game time begins at 4:30 pm.
Watch the matchup with an ESPN+ subscription. Visit www.ciaatournament.org to access all tournament information.
About the Broncos
FSU set a program record for wins in a regular season, going 24-2 overall and 17-1 in conference play. It is the most wins in a single year since 1976 when FSU went 25-2 and finished as a runner-up in the CIAA tournament. This year's squad enters the tournament on a ten-game winning streak as the 1-seed and ranked #15 nationally in the latest WBCA Coaches Poll.
It was a well-rounded season by the numbers for the Broncos on both the offensive and defensive ends. FSU finished the regular season with the third-best scoring offense at 67.2 PPG and tied for the best scoring defense at 58.5 PPG allowed. The Broncos were also the top rebounding unit in the league with 41.5 rebounds per game, 27.7 of which came on the defensive end. Elsewhere in league leaderboards, FSU finished first in blocked shots, second in turnover margin and steals, and fourth in total assists
Fayetteville State enters the CIAA tournament hunting for their fifth championship in program history. The Broncos most recently won the tournament in 2019-2020 under head coach Serena King-Coleman. Other title years were 2010, 2001, and 1979. Last season the Broncos entered the tournament but lost in an opening round upset 62-54 to Johnson C. Smith.
Broncos starting point guard
Talia Trotter will be returning close to home for the CIAA tournament in Baltimore. Trotter grew up in nearby Ellicott City, Maryland just west of Baltimore. Trotter had a breakout sophomore season averaging 11.1 points per game while dishing out 67 assists. Her biggest game of the season came on the road at Livingstone College on 1/25, setting season-highs with 27 points and 8 rebounds.
The Broncos had a pair of starters earn All-CIAA recognition at the end of the regular season. Conference Player of the Year
Aniylah Bryant along with Broncos Forward/Center
Morgan Graham both earned the honor. Throughout the regular season, Bryant earned a pair of CIAA Player of the Week Awards and a Defensive Player of the Week honor. Graham also was named CIAA Player of the Week for week 8 and led the conference with 3.0 blocks per game.
In their most recent game vs St. Augustine's, the Broncos took control after a 49-49 tie to end the third quarter and knocked off the Saint Augustine's Falcons 64-57, Saturday, Feb. 24.
Aniylah Bryant led the Broncos (23-2, 16-1) with 24 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
Keayna McLaughlin also added nine points and four assists and
Amina Miles chipped in as well with seven points and seven rebounds. The Fayetteville State offense was very productive from deep, making nine threes on 16 attempts. Bryant was the most prolific shooter for the Broncos, draining five treys in the contest.
About Bluefield
Bluefield was able to outlast Livingstone in their first game of the CIAA Tournament, 59-56, knocking Livingstone out of the competition.
Game leaders included Alexyss Newman with 20 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Katrina Davis followed with 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Azariah Binford contributed nine points and eight assists. Gabrielle Thomas earned Food Lion MVP of the game, coming away with 13 rebounds and eight points.
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