Written By Coach Jackson
E-Gaming Coach at North American University

Buffalo, New York — Neutral site, but no neutral energy.

The Lady Stallions (18-7) walked into this one like a team that remembers. Last year, this squad had to claw back from a mountain-sized deficit to survive. This time? They built the mountain.

From the opening tip, NAU played like Texas — wide open, aggressive, stretching the floor like a West Texas sky. By the end of the first quarter it was 27-7. That's not just a run. That's a statement.

By halftime, the Stallions were up 45-16.

That's not just offense. That's discipline.

The Black Mamba Energy

When you talk about killers' instinct, you talk about the late Kobe Bryant and his "keep your foot on their neck" mentality.

Jerkayla Dickey heard that loud and clear.

16 points.
4 assists.
Steals.
Free throws under pressure.

She wasn't just scoring — she was leading. Power. Speed. Confidence. Trusting her teammates to rotate, defend, and clean the glass behind her.

If Kobe was the Black Mamba, then Kayla was out there looking like the newest Black Panther — poised, explosive, and calculated.

Texas Pace Meets New York Pressure

Texas basketball says: push it. Run it. Stretch it.
New York basketball says: grind it. Trap it. Make it ugly.

NAU blended both.

• 28 points off turnovers

• 59 total rebounds

• 38 points in the paint

• 10 fast break points

That's highway speed with subway toughness.

Aliyah Solis added 10 points, knocking down three triples. Maurdaisha Powell chipped in 10 with perimeter confidence. Akyra Hodges filled the stat sheet with 9 points and 5 assists. Keasia Robinson controlled the glass with 10 rebounds.

This wasn't a one-woman show. This was orchestra basketball.

The Lesson in the 4th Quarter

Now let's coach this thing honestly.

NAU led by as many as 37.

And Five Towns didn't quit.

They cut into it late. Turnovers crept in. Fouls stacked up. The fourth quarter margin was tighter than it should've been.

That's the reminder.

You can't build a 40-point lead and then take your foot off the gas. Especially in March. Especially when last year taught you what happens when you let teams breathe.

Championship teams close doors. They don't leave them cracked.

But here's the good news — when the pressure rose, NAU didn't fold. They rebounded. They hit free throws (81% from the line). They protected the paint.

And they walked out with the win.

Final Word

54-70 doesn't tell the whole story.

The story is growth.

Last year — comeback kids.
This year — tone setters.

The Lady Stallions showed they can run you like Texas and grind you like New York.

Now the mission is simple:

Keep the pedal down. Keep that Mamba mentality. And in tournament time — keep your foot on their necks.

Up Next

The Lady Stallions will face Paul Quinn College for the third time this season on March 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM EST in Dallas, Texas — and this one carries weight.

This matchup has grown beyond a regular-season contest. It's HBCU pride versus RRAC grit. It's familiarity. It's adjustments. It's respect earned the hard way.

Historically, meetings between North American University and Paul Quinn have been competitive, physical, and emotionally charged. Each game has added another layer to what is becoming a legitimate United States Collegiate Athletic Association postseason rivalry. With both programs representing the Red River Athletic Conference and the HBCU tradition on a national stage, the intensity has steadily climbed year after year.

Third meeting this season.
Familiar opponent.
National implications.

This isn't just another game on the schedule — this is a developing USCAA rivalry with history attached.

Tip-off is set. The stage is set. Now it's execution time.