By AFRO Staff

Day two of the 2023 CIAA Tournament was full of excitement for those who flocked to Baltimore for a second day of games and activities on Wed., Feb. 22. Some of the top historically Black colleges and universities faced off on the court, while historically Black organizations like Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity engaged in fellowship opportunities off of the court. 

Day two included matchups between the ladies of Virginia State University and Lincoln University. Number two seed, Lincoln University, beat out number seven seed, Virginia State, in a 78 to 57 finish for the quarterfinals. 

Emerging victorious, the Lincoln Lions will now move on to the semifinals of the 2023 CIAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, which take place Friday, Feb. 24, at 8 p.m. The Lady Lions of Lincoln will meet up with Shaw University, which pulled out a win against Winston-Salem State in the Feb. 23 quarterfinal game.

  • Lincoln v. VSU – Anyssa Fields (#0) is helped up by fellow Lady Lincoln Lions Ciani Montgomery (#4) and Kania Pollock (#10). (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Lincoln v. VSU – VSU’s J’Auana Robinson (#12) faces off against Lincoln’s Kania Pollock (#10). (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Lincoln v. VSU- Lincoln University’s Rayniah Walker reaches for the ball as VSU’s Sommer Blakemore takes a shot. (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Lincoln v VSU – Lincoln’s Kayiona Willis (#2) holds off VSU’s Trinity Moody (#30) on day two of the 2023 CIAA Tournament for women. (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Smith v. Broncos- Johnson C. Smith’s Shaniya Jones (#3) takes a shot as Fayetteville State Bronco, Morgan Graham (#4), blocks.(Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Smith v. Broncos mascots- The Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University met the Broncos of Fayetteville State University on day two of the 2023 CIAA Tournament. (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Smith v. Broncos team prepares- The Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith University prepare to take the court. (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Smith v. Broncos- Fayetteville State University Bronco Keayna McLaughlin (#15) goes for the basket as Morgan Graham (#4) rushes to assist and JCSU’s India Howard (#22) and Tori Reid (#11) prepare to block. (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Smith v. Broncos- Fayetteville State University forward Morgan Graham (#4) and guard, London Thompson (#0) leap into the air in attempts to keep the ball from JCSU’s Tori Reid (#11). (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Smith v. Broncos- JCSU’s Aaliyah Bell outpaces Fayetteville State forward Talia Trotter. (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Mens Panthers v. Vikings- Keleaf Tate (#0) takes a shot as fellow Virginia Union Panthers Tahj Harding (#24) and Charles Tart III (#2) look on.(Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Mens Panthers v. Vikings- Virginia Union Panther Raemaad Wright lines up a shot. (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)
  • Mens Panthers v. Vikings- ECSU Viking Christopher Wright (#1) goes against Virginia Union Panther Michael Harrell (#1). (Photos by Stephen Hopkins)

Other women’s games on day two  included the meeting of Johnson C. Smith (JCSU), ranked as the number eight seed, and Fayetteville State, the top seed of the women’s tournament. After a riveting game, the final score on the board recorded 62 points for JCSU and 54 for Fayetteville State.

For the men’s games, top seed Virginia Union (VU) met up with the men of Elizabeth City State University, ranked as seed number nine. The game ended with VU taking home the “W” with a 75 to 64 final score. 

Other CIAA quarterfinal scores for men included the 82- 50 final score between Lincoln and JCSU, which kicked off the opening round of games on Feb. 22. The Winston-Salem State men’s basketball team finished on top against Saint Augustine with a score of 65 to 49, and the men of Fayetteville State also had a close game against Shaw. The final score in the Fayetteville State v. Shaw University match up closed out 58 to 53, with Fayetteville taking the lead.