Apprentice Routs Millennia for NSAC Title

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – In a single word, dominance. The Apprentice School women’s basketball team saw their offense explode Sunday afternoon as they defeated Millennia Atlantic in the New South Athletic Conference Championship 99-41.

Apprentice shot 10-of-20 from three-point land, marking the third best shooting percentage from distance in program history.

The Builders led wire-to-wire with the game only being tied at 2-2 before the offense exploded. Apprentice finished the first quarter on a 20-2 run and then scored the first seven points of the second quarter to jump out to a massive lead. From there, the shots kept falling with the Builders shooting 59.3 percent from the floor in the first half to take a 49-13 lead into intermission.

Millennia started to see some shots fall in the second half, but Apprentice’s shooting never cooled off, putting up 50 more points in the second half in route to their first NSAC championship in program history.

Five Builders finished in double figures, led by NeOndra Kelly’s 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the floor, including five three pointers. Siara Lundy had a career-high 20 points, her first collegiate game with double digit scoring. Dajanelle Linton-Robinson finished with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Joy Wright was one rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points. Shilah-Rayn Lord added 12 points.

Linton-Robinson was named the Tournament MVP, averaging a double-double for the tournament at 14.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Wright and Kelly were named to the All-Tournament Team, joined by MACU’s Carly James, SC Central’s Adriana Henderson and Millennia’s Abigail Thoephile and Angenai Martin.

The Builders now await the USCAA National Tournament bids to be announced Tuesday morning at 11:40 a.m. on the USCAA Sports Network. Coming into the week at No. 5 in the coaches poll, Apprentice will likely get a bid and head to Buffalo for the Division I Tournament starting on March 3.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy DeMetri Washington/@pixxbydk

Millennia, Apprentice Punch Tickets to Sunday’s Finals

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Sixth-seed Millennia Atlantic University used a strong second half to pull away from 2nd-seed Atlantis University for a 66-46 victory in the semifinals of the NSAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Saturday afternoon.

Angina Martin led the Macaws with 16 points and eight assists, while Abigail Thoephile added 13 points and a game-high 20 rebounds. Haile Falcon chipped in 10 points and 12 boards as MAU controlled the glass 62-41 and steadily built its lead after halftime. Kaci Marson scored 12 points off the bench for Millennia.

Rosmery Franco paced Atlantis with 13 points.

Top-seed Apprentice had a tougher time in its semi, trailing 25-21 at halftime and 35-34 after three periods of play before holding scrappy SC Central to nine points in the final stanza to claim a 48-44 win.

Two Lady Builders claimed double-doubles: Cornasia Lamberson scored 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, while Dajanelle Linton-Robinson finished with 15 and 12, respectively. Joy Wright added 10 points.

Maia Brown and Adriana Henderson each scored 13 for the Gladiators.

Apprentice and MAU will meet for the 2026 NSAC Women’s Basketball Championship Sunday at 12 noon.

Millennia, S4C Advance to NSAC Semis

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Millennia Atlantic and SC Central Christian picked up quarterfinal wins on Thursday night to open play in the 2026 New South Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Millennia Atlantic put four players in double figures to hold off a second half rally and defeat Beacon 60-54 in the tournament opener. The Macaws built a 16-point lead early in the second half, only to see the Blazers storm back to take a one-point lead with about five minutes to play in regulation. MAU was able to take advantage at the free throw line to retake the lead and put the game away in the closing minutes. Jada Sinclair led all scorers with 17 points.

In the nightcap, South Carolina Central used a dominant second and third quarter surge to roll past Mid-Atlantic Christian 96-46.

S4C led 15-11 after one quarter before blowing the game open with a 28-point second quarter and a 33-point third, shooting better than 50% in both periods. The Gladiators finished at 45.6% from the field and knocked down 15 3-pointers.

Jataya Brown led a balanced South Carolina Central attack with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, while Adriana Henderson added 16 points and nine rebounds. Maia Brown scored 15 points and D’Yonna Barnes and McKenzie Evans added 14 apiece.

MACU was led by senior Carly James, who finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Angelina Bologna added 13 points. The Mustangs shot 28.6% from the floor and committed 36 turnovers while forcing only eight.

Millennia advances to face Atlantis in the semifinals Saturday at noon while SC Central takes on top-seed Apprentice at 2:30 pm.

Conference Championships Set to Tip-Off

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The fields are set, the teams are ready, and glory awaits at the 2026 New South Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments.

The women’s quarterfinal matchups tip off Thursday, February 19 at 5:30 pm Eastern time inside the Apprentice Athletic Center. The men’s quarters follow on Friday beginning at high noon. The championships take place Sunday.

You can find the men’s bracket here and the women’s bracket here. Ticket information, live stats, and the livestream of each game can be accessed here.

Builders Secure Senior Night Win, Top Seed in NSAC Tourney

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School women’s basketball team held Mid-Atlantic Christian to single digits in each period Thursday night in a 73-29 rout of the Mustangs on Senior Day.

The Builders (11-8 overall, 5-0 NSAC) went up 26-6 after the first quarter before continuing to extend their lead in each period on the way to the big win to finish New South Athletic Conference play unbeaten, securing the top seed in next week’s conference tournament.

Dajanelle Linton-Robinson had a double-double of 17 points and 10 boards, while NeOndra Kelly, the team’s lone senior, had 15 points on the night. Cornasia Lamberson recorded 14 points, while Joy Wright had 10. All eight Builders notched points in the win.

MACU (3-11, 0-4) was led by Lily McLean with 12 points

The Builders have two more regular season games before next week’s conference tournament, starting with Saturday’s 5 p.m. tipoff against Warren Wilson.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Apprentice Athletics

SC Central Seals Comeback Win over Tidewater

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Adriana Henderson scored a game-high 27 points and South Carolina Central rallied past Tidewater Community College 55-50 at the MLK Classic on Sunday.

South Carolina Central (2-8) trailed 28-23 at halftime after Tidewater held S4C to just 17.6% shooting in the first quarter. The Gladiators turned the game around in the second half, outscoring the Storm 32-22 over the final two quarters to secure the comeback win.

Henderson went 8 of 19 from the field and knocked down five 3-pointers, adding seven rebounds and three assists. D’Yonna Barnes finished with 10 points, while Maia Brown contributed eight points and five assists. Destynn Fletcher did not score but pulled down 10 rebounds to anchor South Carolina Central on the glass.

Tidewater CC (2-9) was led by Mackenzie Whitehead, who scored 17 points on five 3-pointers. Reanna Keaton added 12 points off the bench.

South Carolina Central held a 42-39 rebounding edge and capitalized on 19 second-chance points to seal the victory.

Apprentice Pulls Away from SC Central 49-33

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Apprentice School women’s basketball team used a balanced scoring attack and strong defense to defeat South Carolina Central Christian 49-33 Saturday night in the MLK Classic.

Apprentice improved to 9-4 on the season and 3-0 in the NSAC by building a lead in the second quarter and holding firm the rest of the way. Ronnice Berry led the Builders with 21 points, shooting 8-for-18 from the field and hitting four 3-pointers. Shilah-Rayn Lord added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Joy Wright chipped in nine points off the bench to help maintain the advantage.

South Carolina Central Christian dropped to 1-9 and 1-2, struggling offensively throughout the night. Maia Brown scored nine points to lead the visitors, and Adriana Henderson added eight, but the Gladiators shot just 19.4% from the field as Apprentice’s defense disrupted their rhythm.

The Builders sealed the victory with balanced contributions and limited S4C to single figures in three of four quarters.

Image courtesy Apprentice Athletics and Kaitlyn Olson @picsbyk8lyn

S4C Crushes Mustangs for First Win

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. – SC Central Christian used a dominant first half to pull away early and cruised to a 78–43 NSAC women’s basketball victory over Mid-Atlantic Christian on Saturday afternoon.

SC Central (1-7 overall, 1-1 NSAC) jumped out to a 22–6 lead after the first quarter and extended the margin to 46–22 by halftime, controlling the pace on both ends. The home team continued to build the lead in the second half, outscoring the Mustangs 32–21 after the break.

Adrianna Henderson led the Gladiators with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and added four steals. Mya Middleton added 10 points. S4C forced 14 turnovers and finished with a 34–59 shooting performance from the field.

MACU (1-5, 0-1) was led by Angelina Bologna, who scored 16 points and knocked down three 3-pointers.

Central won the rebounding battle 18–7 and committed just three turnovers in the game.

Apprentice Overpowers Tidewater 76-35

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Ronnice Berry scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead The Apprentice School to a 76-35 rout of Tidewater Community College on Wednesday night at the Apprentice Athletic Center.

The Builders (5-2) forced 27 turnovers while racking up 24 steals of their own, turning the game into a track meet early and never letting up. Tidewater CC (1-6) struggled from the field at 25.5% and converted just 5 of 16 free throws, dropping to 0-3 on the road.

Berry, a freshman forward, was a force inside and out, shooting 9-for-19 from the floor and sinking both of the team’s 3-pointers. She also dished out four assists and notched five steals before fouling out late in the fourth quarter as part of two technical fouls assessed to the home team.

Joy Wright added 19 points off the bench for Apprentice, going a perfect 8-for-8 on two-point field goals while pulling down seven rebounds.

The Builders dominated the glass with 57 total boards to Tidewater’s 32, including 20 offensive rebounds that fueled second-chance points

The Apprentice reserves kept the pedal down in the second half, outscoring Tidewater 34-20 while limiting the Storm to 8-for-28 shooting. Dajanelle Linton-Robinson hauled in nine rebounds in just 19 minutes off the bench for the Builders, while Jayla Stratton added four steals.

James, Delosreyes Lead MACU to First Win

MOUNT HOPE, W.V. – Senior Carly James and sophomore Madelyn Delosreyes each scored 14 points in leading Mid-Atlantic Christian to a 58-53 win over Appalachian Bible College on Saturday.

James scored 10 of her points in the second half as the Mustangs (1-3) recorded their first win of the season. Lily McLean added 11 points.

MACU’s offensive output was 25 points higher than its season average.

Mid-Atlantic is in action again next Saturday, December 13 when it takes on USCAA Division 2 6th-ranked Cincinnati-Clermont at the Apprentice’s Great Ships Classic.

Image courtesy MACU Athletics