SUNO Women’s Basketball Continues to Rise with Best Season in Over a Decade
February 26, 2025
The SUNO Women's Basketball team took a major step forward in the 2024-25 season, recording their best campaign since 2013. The Knights posted an 8-18 overall record and a 6-11 mark in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), making significant strides in Head Coach Destinie Smith's third year at the helm.
This season was a testament to the resilience and determination of a program that was suspended in 2020 and relaunched in 2022. Despite returning just two players—junior guards McKenna Harris and Jordan Harris—the Knights built chemistry quickly with a roster that featured eight transfers, including two from Wiley University and two from LSU-Alexandria.
SUNO's six conference wins included two victories each over Wiley University and the University of the Virgin Islands, along with key wins over defending conference champion Rust College and Voorhees University. The Knights' offensive production was among the best in the conference, ranking third in total points (1,739) and points per game (66.9).
The Knights also finished in the top five of the 13-team HBCUAC in multiple statistical categories, showcasing their all-around strength:
- Field goal attempts per game (64.7) – 3rd
- Three-pointers made per game (5.3) – 2nd
- Free throws made per game (14.2) – 3rd
- Defensive rebounds per game (27.7) – 3rd
- Total rebounds per game (42.2) – 3rd
- Assists per game (13.7) – 3rd
Standout Performers
Junior guard Jordan Harris was a major force for the Knights, finishing the season ranked fifth in the HBCUAC in three-point percentage (35.9%) and eighth in total points (341). Her long-range shooting was among the best in the conference, as she knocked down 60 three-pointers, ranking fourth in the HBCUAC. Harris now sits just 52 points away from the 1,000-career point milestone, an achievement she is primed to reach early next season.
Freshman forward Jakhiya Smith made an immediate impact in her first collegiate season. The Tuscaloosa native proved to be one of the most efficient scorers in the conference, leading the HBCUAC in field goal percentage (56.2%).
Looking Ahead: HBCUAC Conference Championship
With a strong foundation in place and a core of talented players set to return, the SUNO Women's Basketball team is positioned to make a run in this year's tournament.
With a strong foundation in place and a core of talented players set to return, the SUNO Women's Basketball team is positioned to make a run in this year's tournament.
The Knights play their first game of the HBCUAC 2025 Hope Credit Union Basketball Championship on Wednesday, February 26 at 6 p.m. against Rust College, who they beat in the 2025 HBCUAC Crossover in January. Fans can watch the game live on HBCUACTV or by downloading the Urban Edge Network app and clicking on the HBCUAC channel.