PEMBROKE – Athletics department officials from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke announced on Monday morning that women's basketball's Tiana Spann and men's basketball's Nygell Verdier have been named the Scotland Health Care System Braves of the Week for the week ending on January 11, 2026.

A native of Charleston, S.C., Spann started in both games last week and averaged 10.5 points and 8.0 rebounds. The senior shot 42.8 percent from the field and finished the week with two assists, one block and one steal. Spann's week was highlighted on Saturday registering her second double-double with 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. 

Verdier was instrumental in helping the Braves to a 2-0 week shooting 52.1 percent from the field and averaging 15.0 points per game. A native of Charlotte, Verdier also averaged 7.0 rebounds each game while also adding two assists, two blocks, and four steals for the week. Verdier went 7-for-12 from the field at Francis Marion for a season-best 19 points. 

 

BRAVES OF THE WEEK
Week		Student-Athlete	Student-Athlete	Summary
9/8		Malea Bennewitz	Tre Robinson	Release
9/15		Addie Decker	Donovan Woods	Release
9/22		Emily Collings	Marquis Raspberry	Release
9/29		Fabiana Pesce	Jamiel Davis	Release
10/6		Sofia Skidmore	Tre Robinson	Release
10/13		Eugenie Amidou	Justin Foreman	Release
10/20		Mercy Bell	Justin Foreman	Release
10/27		Malea Bennewitz	Ed Carney	Release
11/3		Mercy Bell	Isi Etute	Release
11/10		McKenna Hayes	Kelvin Kibet	Release
11/17		McKenna Hayes	Javonte Waverly	Release
11/24		Bre'Asia Washington	Quay Watson	Release
12/1		Keziyah Sanders	Moe Bangura	Release
12/8		Shaymiah Bailey	Avery Buonocore	Release
12/15		Britta Schwengle	Keegan Roberson	Release
12/22		Grace Ikenegbu	Demar Anderson	Release
1/5		Shaymiah Bailey	Avery Buonocore	Release
1/12		Tiana Spann	Nygell Verdier	Release