WASHINGTON, DC --- Trailing by as many as 12 points in the second half, the Howard women's basketball team barely missed out on completing its comeback attempt, falling to the Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats, 81-77 on Tuesday afternoon in Burr Gymnasium.

The Bison (3-15, 1-4 MEAC) struggled to get an offensive rhythm going early on after sitting out for 15 days between games due to a season-long break and Winter Storm Jonas' effects. Howard shot 12-of-37 (32.4 percent) in the first half yet still found themselves within striking distance at the half, trailing 34-30 to B-CU (11-9, 5-2 MEAC) after 20 minutes.

Bethune would gain its separation in the third period by outscoring Howard 19-11 over the first seven minutes of the quarter to take a 53-41 advantage. Another eight minutes of even basketball (20 points scored by each team) kept the Lady Wildcats' lead at 12 points (73-61) with 4:43 left in the game.

With their backs against the wall, the Bison would make their charge.

A three-point play by senior center Victoria Gonzales would spark a 16-6 Howard run over the course of the next three and a half minutes. Gonzales would score her final points on a layup with 25 seconds remaining to pull HU within three (77-74). After a B-CU timeout, the Lady Wildcats' Kendra Cooper extended her team's lead (79-74) with a pair of free throws.

With no timeouts remaining, Howard would push the ball upcourt and get it into the hands of junior forward Sydni Johnson. Double teamed and off-balance, Johnson would knock down a desparation three-pointer with 12 seconds left to cut Bethune's lead to just two (79-77), its smallest cushion since the second quarter (32-30; 2:15).

However, Copper would convert two more free throws to push its lead to four (81-77) and B-CU would force the Bison into a poor three-point attempt with seconds to spare.

In defeat, Gonzales finished with a game-high 24 points on 11-of-27 shooting. Senior guard Imani Bailey had her second straight 20-point outing with 22 to go along with a game-high four assists. Johnson would add 12 points and seven rebounds - most among Howard forwards. Sophomore guard Tajzhane Dopson ended the game with five points and a game-high 10 rebounds, her second double-digit rebounding effort of her career.

NEXT UP
Howard will hit the road this weekend with games at Morgan State (Saturday, January 30 at 2 p.m.) and Maryland Eastern Shore (Monday, February 1 at 4:30 p.m.).