ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Following a stellar home debut, the new era Wildcats will take their talents on the road for the first time as they head to Orangeburg to take on South Carolina State at the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.



Thursday, November 5
Opponent: South Carolina State (1-0)
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Orangeburg, S.C. | Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center
Live Stats: Click here

The Demetria Frank era got off to a roaring start in Moore Gymnasium, as a packed house watched B-CU decimate Florida Memorial 102-30 in the 2026-27 season opener.

Five players reached double figures in their Wildcat debut and nine players recorded at least one steal during the dominant performance.

The Wildcats (1-0) wasted little time taking control, opening the game with a 16-0 run before taking a 25-2 lead into the second quarter. B-CU continued to pull away throughout the night, taking a 50-11 advantage into halftime before extending its lead to 76-17 after three quarters.

Bethune-Cookman was relentless defensively, forcing 32 turnovers and converting them into 38 points. The Wildcats also scored 43 points in transition and held Florida Memorial to just 17.3 percent shooting from the field.

Tahjae Hawes led four Wildcats in double figures, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting while knocking down three 3-pointers. Kayla Lee added 16 points off the bench on 7-of-13 shooting, while Alannah Nerocker scored 12 points and Akilah Shelton recorded 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Jarahle Daniels also scored 10 points while adding four assists and five steals, while Marley Bell went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 3-for-3 at the free-throw line to finish with nine points.

B-CU's depth was on full display, with 12 Wildcats finding the scoring column and the bench accounting for 57 of the team's 102 points. The Wildcats shot 52.5 percent from the field and outrebounded Florida Memorial, 57-33.

Like the Wildcats, South Carolina State also opened its season at home, as they overwhelmed Trinity College 112-42 to start 1-0 on the year.

The Bulldogs were chosen to finish last in the MEAC Preseason Poll following at 5-25 finish last season. Two players were chosen to the conference's preseason watchlist: Alexcia Murphy and Monajah Ford.

The sophomore Murphy spent her freshman season at Cowley College, where she averaged 9.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She posted 10 points but shot just 3-for-10 from the floor in her Bulldogs debut.

Ford is a senior who averaged 4.0 points in 17.1 minutes per game for SCSU last season. She had nine points and eight steals in Monday's win.

Monmouth transfer Adena Webster led the team in scoring with a career-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting. She also had 10 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.



Thursday's game will be the first meeting between the two programs since Bethune-Cookman left the MEAC for the SWAC in 2021. The Bulldogs hold a significant edge in the all-time series 55-28.


Follow Bethune-Cookman Women's Basketball on X/Twitter (@BCUWBB) and Instagram (@BCU_WBB) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on X/Twitter (@BCUAthletics), Instagram (@BCU_Athletics) and BCUathletics.com.