¶¶Òõ̽̽App caps historic year in Final Four
The University of North Georgia (¶¶Òõ̽̽App) women's basketball team made history this season, reaching the NCAA Division II national semifinals for the first time. ¶¶Òõ̽̽App fifth-year senior forward received the (WBCA) Division II Player of the Year award, as well.
¶¶Òõ̽̽App defeated Pace University 68-61 in the Elite Eight on March 21 in Birmingham, Alabama, before the Nighthawks' season ended two nights later in a 74-68 loss to Western Washington University in the Final Four. In head coach 's 28th season, ¶¶Òõ̽̽App finished with a 29-4 record, giving the program a 47-6 combined mark in the past two years.
Throughout the season, the Nighthawks consistently bounced back from adversity and never backed down from a challenge. This was the fourth straight NCAA tournament in which ¶¶Òõ̽̽App reached the regional final and the second time in the past three that it made the Elite Eight.
"It was an honor to coach a team who loved and believed in each other at the level we did all year," Burson said. "To reach a Final Four is as rewarding as anything in my career because we pushed through so many challenges and earned our way through. It's one of the happiest moments I've ever had for a team."
It was an honor to coach a team who loved and believed in each other at the level we did all year. To reach a Final Four is as rewarding as anything in my career because we pushed through so many challenges and earned our way through.
Buffie Burson
¶¶Òõ̽̽App women's basketball head coach
The Nighthawks also earned their fourth Peach Belt Conference (PBC) tournament title in five seasons after winning the PBC regular-season championship with an 18-2 conference record.
"I will remember the amount of buy-in and sacrifice from our players. I will remember their role acceptance and never-say-die attitude," Burson said. "I will remember how much fun this group had and how loose they played because they played for each other."
Sutton, who is from Flowery Branch, Georgia, became ¶¶Òõ̽̽App's first WBCA first-team All-American selection since Mimi Hill in 2013-14. She is also the first ¶¶Òõ̽̽App player to win the Player of the Year honor from the WBCA and the second National Player of the Year in program history, joining current assistant coach , who was named Daktronics Player of the Year after the 2011-12 season.
She also earned the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association Southeast Region Player of the Year honor, and she averaged 16.2 points and 9.5 rebounds this season. Sutton became the only player in PBC history to reach 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Sutton was the PBC tournament's Most Outstanding Player, and she earned All-Southeast Regional tournament honors, as well. She was also named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District Team.
Reaves named national softball Player of Year
¶¶Òõ̽̽App senior center fielder Sydnee Reaves has been named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year.
Nighthawks advance to NCAA championship
The ¶¶Òõ̽̽App softball team has punched its ticket to the NCAA Division II championship for the fifth time in six seasons. It opens the event at 6:30 p.m. May 28 against McKendree.
McGill takes reins as brigade commander
Grace McGill has been named Corps of Cadets brigade commander for 2026-27. She is also a captain on the ¶¶Òõ̽̽App women's soccer team.
Softball team bounces back into Super Regional
The ¶¶Òõ̽̽App softball team tallied four wins in a row after a loss in its NCAA tournament opener, setting up a May 21-22 home Super Regional matchup with Francis Marion.