Women's Basketball | 11/29/2016 3:03:00 PM
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – The Howard women's basketball team will be looking for its first win of the season when it heads to the Empire State to take on St. Francis (N.Y.) on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Pope Physical Education Center.
LAST TIME OUT
Seniors Sydni Johnson and Te'Shya Heslip combined for 33 points in Howard's 66-56 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday in a non-conference matchup on the road.
Johnson finished with a season-high 15 points, seven boards and three assists on the night. She scored most of her points at the free throw line, going 7-of-10, and connected twice from long range.
Heslip recorded double figures for the fifth time on 18 points and paired it with four rebounds and two steals. Redshirt junior Erin Blaine grabbed six rebounds and put up nine points.
Howard made 19 of its 24 free throw attempts, a season-high, but shot the ball at a 26.2 percent clip (16-61) for the game. The Bison also outrebounded the Bearcats on the offensive boards, 20-17.
ALL EYES ON "GATA"
Te'Shya "Gata" Heslip has started her senior campaign on a scoring barrage for the Bison. She posted 20-plus points in Howard's first two outings and is shooting 81.5 percent (22-of-27) from the free throw line, the best mark in the MEAC. Heslip has led the team in scoring in every game thus far and has reached double figures each time. She is averaging 18.6 points per game, which is third in the conference, and 3.6 assists per game.
Heslip has helped the Bison to the best free throw percentage (73.2) in the MEAC.
LOOKING AT ST. FRANCIS
St. Francis (1-4) is coming off a pair of losses at the Omni Classic last weekend. The Terriers fell to tournament-host Colorado, 81-54, and then followed up with a 73-58 setback to Boston College.
Olivia Levey averages a team-high 12.2 points through five games. Maria Palarino is posting a near double-double with 12.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Her effort over the weekend earned her All-Tournament honors.
NEXT UP
Howard will end its seven-game season-opening road excursion at Robert Morris on Sunday, Dec. 4. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
