Women's Basketball | 12/17/2016 8:34:00 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard University women's basketball team will play its second game of the season in Burr Gymnasium when it hosts University of Chicago-Illinois on Monday, Dec. 19. Tipoff is marked for 5 p.m.
SERIES VS. UIC
Howard and UIC met for the first time on the hardwood when the Flames hosted the Bison for their 2015-16 season opener. HU dropped a 75-48 decision on the road and Sydni Johnson scored 13 points.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite redshirt senior Te'Shya Heslip pouring in a team-high 20 points, the Howard women's basketball team fell to NJIT, 70-55, on Friday night in Fleisher Athletic Center.
Heslip posted her third game of the season with at least 20 points. She was 5-of-11 from the floor and an impressive 9-for-10 at the free throw line. She also tallied five rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
Freshman Ayonna Williams finished with a career-high 11 points and was a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown. She paired it with a career-best four boards and two assists.
Johnson and Jasmine Hill came up with eight points apiece. Johnson also pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
SCOUTING THE FLAMES
UIC (2-7) is coming off a rough 76-39 setback to Virginia on Friday. The Flames made a season-high six shots from behind the arc as Brittany Byrd chipped in 17 points, four rebounds and four assists.
In just a pair of appearances this season, Byrd is averaging 12.5 ppg, while Melita Emanuel-Carr and Taylor Toney are close behind with 9.8 ppg and 9.7 ppg, respectively. Teodora Zagorac leads the team with 6.3 rpg.
LEADING THE CHARGE
Heslip continues to be Howard's top offensive threat, averaging team highs in points (17.8), assists (4.1) and steals (3.7) while shooting 39 percent (16-41) from beyond the arc and 80 percent (44-55) in free throws. She has led the team in scoring in seven of nine outings and put up at least 10 points in every game.
Bryant is pulling down a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game and shooting 63.6 percent (21-33) from the field.
CHARITY STRIPE LIVING
The Bison have done a good job of making trips to the free throw stripe count. Howard is converting free throws at a 70.2 percent rate, making 120 of 171 attempts. The mark currently stands second in the conference.
MILESTONES TO WATCH
In her final season, Johnson is well on her way to cementing her place in Howard's record books. She crossed the 500-rebound plateau on Friday night, bringing her career total to 503 boards. Johnson also has 889 points thus far.
With 972 points, Heslip is on track to join the exclusive 1,000-point club this season.
