Game Notes: Howard at Pepperdine

Game Tracker / Video

WASHINGTON, D.C. (www.howard-bison.com) – December 20 – The Howard Universality women's basketball team continues its three-game road stint with its second contest of the series against Pepperdine University on Friday, Dec. 21 at 1:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time), which will be 4:00 p.m. (EST), in Malibu, Calif., at the Fieldstone Fieldhouse (3,104).

HU is currently 4-5 overall, 1-0 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, 3-0 at home and 1-5 on the road. 

The Lady Bison venture west of the Mississippi after a heartbreaking 61-60 loss to George Washington on Wednesday, Dec. 12 in Washington, D.C.

In the heartbreaking loss, freshman Imani Bailey scored a career-high 15 points, while seniors Saadia Doyle, Cheyenne Curley-Payne and Kara Smith each scored in double figures.  Doyle finished with 15, Curley-Payne tallied 14 and Smith netted 12 points, as Doyle pulled down nine rebounds and Curley-Payne circulated four assists and stole four GW possessions. 

By the numbers, HU was 33 percent from the field (17-52), 54 percent from the long range (7-13) and 63 percent from the free-throw line (19-30).

Lady Bison Bites

• Niki Reid Geckeler is in her fourth season as head coach

• Finished second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

• Fell 59-56 OT to Virginia during the WNIT in 2012

• Howard continues its three-game road stint with its second contest of the series against Pepperdine

• Based on statistics from the 2002-03 to now, this is the first meeting between Howard and Pepperdine

• HU ventures west of the Mississippi after a heartbreaking 61-60 loss to George Washington

• Imani Bailey scored a career-high 15 points, while seniors Saadia Doyle, Cheyenne Curley-Payne and Kara Smith each scored in double figures

• Doyle finished with 15, Curley-Payne tallied 14 and Smith netted 12 points, as Doyle pulled down nine rebounds and Curley-Payne circulated four assists and stole four GW possessions.

• By the numbers, HU was 33 percent from the field (17-52), 54 percent from the long range (7-13) and 63 percent from the free-throw line (19-30)

• On the season, the Lady Bison average 56.6 points per game, 35 percent from the field, 33 percent from the long range, and 61 percent from the free-throw line 

Probable Starters

Primary Reserves

Scouting Pepperdine

• Julie Rousseau is in her ninth season at Pepperdine

• The Waves are members of the West Coast Conference

• PU is 3-6 on the season and 2-3 at home and 1-3 on the road

• Pepperdine fell to 80-62 to No. 7 Kentucky on Tuesday, Dec. 18 in Malibu, Calif.

• Shay Cooney-Williams lead with 14 points and four assists, while Kelsey Patrick gathered 12 points Bria Richardson tallied 10 points and Ea Shoushtari totaled 10 rebounds

• The Waves average 61.3 ppg., while going 38 percent from the field, 35 percent from three-point range and 73 percent from the free-throw line

Seeing Double

Lady Bison standout begun her double-double performances, on the season Doyle has:

• 21 points and 10 rebounds (DePaul)

• 12 points and 11 rebounds (Northwestern)

• 24 points and 10 rebounds (Delaware State)

Consecutive Honors for Doyle

Saadia Doyle was name Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.  The honor was announced on Thursday, Nov. 1.

What Have You Heard about the Herd

Along with Doyle's accolades, the Lady Bison were predicted to finish first in the MEAC this 2012-13 season. 

Major News

Among 340 mid-major Division I institutions in the country, the Lady Bison ranked 12th above Richmond (Atlantic 10), Harvard (Ivy) and Central Michigan (Mid-American) on the preseason list. 

For more information on Lady Bison Basketball or for up-to-date scores and statistics, visit the official website of Howard Athletics at www.howard-bison.com.

-HU-