PRINCESS ANNE, MD - On a night when team-leading scorer, junior guard Destiny Howell had an off game, it was Aziah Hudson, who picked up the slack with 21 points and Brooklynn Fort-Davis who contributed 17 to lead Howard to a 56-47 win over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in a women's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game Monday evening at the Hytche Athletics Center. It was the third straight win for the Lady Bison Bison (6-9) who upped their conference record to 2-0.

Howell, the MEAC's leading scorer at 16 points per game, who missed the previous game against Delaware State on Saturday, never got into a rhythm and finished with five points and five rebounds.

It was up to Hudson, a 5-7 graduate transfer from Old Dominion University (ODU), who stepped up big time, connecting a sizzling career-high 6-of-9 from the 3-point line, tallying 17 of her 21 points in the first three quarters to carry her team.

Then Fort-Davis, a 6-0 senior forward, began to make her presence felt, scoring 10 of her points, mostly in the paint area in the second half while grabbing key rebounds (eight for the game) and getting two steals.

"Aziah and Brooklynn came up big today," said Howard Head Coach Ty Grace.  "Aziah shot well from three and Brooklynn hit some big shots in the third and fourth quarters. They were poised and determined offensively. They did a great job being in rhythm and finding their shot. Destiny's presence on the floor allows opportunity for other players, even when she isn't scoring."

Fort Davis, a veteran of college basketball wars, says that it is time to put the poor early start behind them and prepare to defend their title.

"It's conference time and everyone is gunning for us," notes Fort Davis who grabbed her 500th career rebound this past week. "So it's time to take it to the next level. I'm proud of my individual play and my team's overall play. These games will prepare us for the rest of the season. We have been locked in with each other more than ever and that's why we have been seeing more success (of late)." 

For Hudson, she has shown improvement and appears more comfortable as she blends in as a newcomer.

"Being consistent with the help of my teammates," says Hudson, the team second leading scorer, who recently surpassed the 1,000-point career mark. "My teammates are the ones finding me. Just staying the course from last game and play how I usually do."

In the all-important third quarter, the Bison used a 16-8 advantage to get some separation. "We were able to finish shots and make free throws in the third quarter. I think defensively we did a better job containing their guards and rebounding their first miss considering they are a solid offensive rebounding team," shared Coach Ty.

As important as the production was for the duo, there was still more needed and Nyla Cooper answered the call, scoring a career-high 12 points to help Howard maintain a fourth quarter lead that it never squandered.

"Nyla did a great job off the bench hitting some clutch threes and knocking down free throws," noted Grace. "She settles down and let the game come to her.  She played with good energy and was a great spark off the bench " 

Junior guard Kaniyah Harris, who started in place of All-MEAC first team selection Iyanna Warren, who missed the last four games, got in foul trouble and went scoreless but again it was her floor generalship that got good looks for her teammates. She finished with six assists, which now gives her 33 in her last four games.

Another notable presence on the court was sophomore forward Amirah Allen. Coming off of an injury, the Raleigh, NC native made her first appearance back on the hardwood since the Bison's win over on Loyola December 1, 2021.

UMES (4-12, 0-2 in the MEAC) was led by Mahogany Lester with 14 points and Ariana Seawell with 13.

NEXT UP: Howard continues its road swing when it travels to Norfolk, VA to take on the Spartans of Norfolk State on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2 pm.

Contributors: Jalisa Fulwood and Chevonne Mansfield