WASHINGTON, DC --- Frontcourt duo Victoria Gonzales & Sydni Johnson combined for 45 points in the Howard women's basketball team's best effort of the season but the Bison still suffered a 89-72 home opener loss to the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds Sunday afternoon at Burr Gymnasium.

Gonzales posted her second double-double of the season, going for a career high of 26 points and season bests of 12 rebounds & four assists while Johnson set a new season high of 19 points to go along with five rebounds.

Freshman center Kiana Thomas and sophomore guard Tajzhane Dopson set career highs in the game with nine and seven points, respectively. Senior guard Allese Morrison also chipped in a season-high seven points.

Howard (0-4) set new season highs in several categories across the board: points (72), field goals made (29), field goal percentage (.475), three pointers made(three), and assists (13).

Despite the early season milestones, the Bison still struggled to keep pace with a LIU Brooklyn (1-1) team whose 89 points were its best of the young season and would have set a high mark for them in 2014-15.

After quickly falling behind 5-0 in the first quarter, Gonzales and Johnson scored the next six points to give Howard its first and only lead at the 7:38 mark. The Blackbirds outscored the Bison 22-11 to close out the first and would maintain a double-digit lead the remainder of the contest. 

NEXT UP
Howard will travel to Pittsburgh, PA for a 7 p.m. matchup with Duquesne University on November 24,