PRINCESS ANNE, MD --- A career performance by junior guard Jasmine Hill was not enough to push the Howard women's basketball team past the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks as the Bison lost to UMES by a narrow 62-59 margin Monday evening at the Hytche Athletic Center.

Playing without Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) scoring leader Victoria Gonzales' 20.7 points per game due to illness, Howard (3-17, 1-6 MEAC) struggled offensively early and faced a 21-6 deficit going into the second period.

However, Hill would set the tone for the Bison as the visitors chipped away at UMES' lead. The product of Clinton, MD led HU in scoring during both periods of the first half - five in the first, seven in the second - and exceeded her season high of ten points by intermission, posting 12 of Howard's 21 points in a 12-point game (33-21).

Hill put the team on her back as the third quarter began, nearly doubling her output in the period alone. An 11-point quarter - part of a 20-6 run by the Bison in the third - gave Hill a new career-high and gave Howard a 41-39 lead.

The fourth turned into the highest scoring period of the contest, with both teams keeping pace with each other. A three-pointer by senior guard Imani Bailey gave Howard a 54-53 lead over UMES (6-14, 4-4 MEAC) with 4:26 remaining in the game, giving the visitors a chance to steal a conference road game down the stretch.

Unfortunately for the Bison, the combination of Gonzales' absence, Hill's cooling off (three points in the fourth) and timely free throws by the Lady Hawks doomed Howard in the end. UMES went 14-of-27 from the line overall but knocked down more than half (eight) in the fourth alone, including five after HU's last lead as part of a final 9-5 edge.

Hill finished the night with 26 points, surpassing her previous best of 20 from last season's MEAC Tournament victory over South Carolina State on March 9, 2015. Overall, she went 9-of-24 from the floor, 5-of-12 from three-point range and 3-of-4 from the line.

Bailey ended up with 14 points and a team-high four assists while junior forward Sydni Johnson recorded her third double-double of the season (11 points, 11 rebounds) and first since a 10-point, 10 rebound effort vs Delaware State on January 11.

UMES was led by Taryana Kelly with 11 points and Ciani Byrom with 10 as 11 different players scored.

OTHER NOTES
Howard forced a season-high 27 turnovers and scored 15 points off UMES' miscues...UMES outrebounded Howard by 17 (50-33)

NEXT UP
Howard will host Norfolk State on Saturday at 4 p.m. while the Lady Hawks will host Hampton University, also on Saturday at 4 p.m.