DAHLONEGA – The No. 6 University of North Georgia women’s basketball team saw its season come to an end Monday in a 64-54 defeat to the No. 21 Coker Cobras in the 2025 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship. The heartbreaking end to a historic season can’t overshadow the accomplishments of the Nighthawks.
The loss ends UNG’s hopes of a National Championship, but it can’t overshadow the team’s achievements. This season, the Nighthawks set several program firsts in the DII era (2005), including going undefeated on the road, shooting 36.6 percent from three-point range and averaging 18.1 assists per game.
The Nighthawks came into this season with a rich history of success, having won nine conference regular-season and tournament championships. This year’s team did something no other had done: win 91.2% of its games.
Head Buffie Burson, the winningest coach in conference history, took pride in how selfless his team was and how they played for one another. “They could play with a chip on their shoulder, but they played for each other, and that was truly amazing because I don’t think every team can ever say that,” Burson said. “They were selfless and you saw how many people we put on the floor that could score the ball.”
In the championship game, Coker’s physical brand of basketball stifled UNG’s offense, as the Nighthawks were held to just three made three-pointers. Senior forward Ansley Hall and sophomore forward Kendall Emener led UNG with 14 points each.
Despite the loss, two Nighthawks were honored for their performances over the course of the tournament. Graduate guard Caroline Martin and graduate forward Emily Trushel were named to the 205 NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament Team.
This season marks the fifth 30-win season in program history and the third time UNG has earned the top seed and hosting rights in the NCAA Southeast Regional. The end of the season is a bittersweet moment, but the Nighthawks can take pride in their accomplishments and the legacy they’ve left behind.
