The Lady Bulldogs kicked off their HBCU Athletic Conference journey with a hard-fought contest against the Voorhees Tigers but ultimately fell short, 59-48. Despite an aggressive effort on both ends, Wilberforce couldn't overcome a challenging shooting performance and a strong three-point showing from Voorhees. This marked the first conference matchup for both schools, setting the tone for an exciting season in their new competitive environment.

Leading Wilberforce was senior Constance Chaplin, who turned in a dominant performance with a double-double. She recorded 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds, showcasing her versatility and resilience. Chaplin's defensive presence was equally impactful, with two steals that provided critical stops in key moments. Her performance was a bright spot for Wilberforce in a game where scoring opportunities were hard to come by.

Wilberforce demonstrated solid defensive effort, outrebounding Voorhees 50-40 and holding them to just 33.3% shooting from the field. The Bulldogs forced 21 turnovers and kept the Tigers' leading scorers under pressure throughout the game. However, Voorhees managed to capitalize on timely three-point shooting, hitting 10 triples, which proved to be a decisive factor in the outcome.

The Tigers were paced by Ty'Shemia Bunkley, who scored 25 points, including eight three-pointers. Her shooting efficiency and composure under pressure helped Voorhees maintain their lead despite Wilberforce's attempts to close the gap.

This opening game provided valuable insights for Wilberforce as they look to build on Chaplin's leadership and fine-tune their strategies for future conference matchups.