Washington, DC—Te"Shya Heslip scored six of her team's eight points in over time to help Howard defeat Hampton, 83-77 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's game at Burr Gymnasium.  It marked the second game in a row that the Bison have played in overtime.  They dropped a 110-108 double overtime decision to Norfolk State on Saturday.
 
Heslip, who has missed several games due to personal reasons, had her best game of the season, recording a triple double of 22 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and 11 assists and the Bison needed it all against the league-leading Lady Pirates (10-13, 8-2 in the MEAC).
 
The game was played at a high level before a packed house at Burr Gymnasium.  Hampton took the early lead at 16-10 at the end of the first quarter. Howard (4-18, 2-7 in the MEAC) came back on the scoring of Sydni Johnson's six points to tie the game at 29 at intermission.
 
A game that featured 15 ties and 19 lead changes, turned into a battle and test of wills.
 
Hampton's Malia Tate-DeFreitas put her team on her back and almost singlehandedly won the game.  The junior guard from Harrisburg, Pa scored 24 of her game-high 37 after intermission and in the overtime period before fouling out.  Her layup in the lane with seven seconds remaining in regulation appeared to give Hampton the victory at 70-69.  But Heslip pushed the ball up the court and was fouled with one second left, sending her to the foul line.  He made the first and missed the second, sending the game into overtime.
 
Howard took a 76-72 lead at the 1:53 mark on a three pointer by Jasmine Hill and a free throw later by Heslip.
 
Kristine Rose narrowed the score to 76-74.  But then it shaped up as a battle between Tate-DeFreitas and Heslip as they took turns scoring.  The Bison finally got a push and a break that decided the outcome.
 
Heslip connected on two free throws and a jumper to give her team some breathing room at 81-76 with 41 seconds left in the extra frame.  Tate-DeFreitas made one of two free throws before fouling out.  Imani Bailey then closed the door and secured the victory with two free throws.
 
Erin Blaine chipped in with a career-high 16 as did Bailey while Johnson recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Hampton got the 37 from Tate-DeFreitas, 14 from K'lynn Willis and 14 rebounds from Mikayla Sayle and 10 from Rose.
 
GAME NOTES:  The win by the Bison snapped Hampton's six-game win streak and ended a 16-game stranglehold that the Lady Pirates have had over Howard.
 
NEXT UP: Howard will try to extend its win streak to two when it travels to Baltimore, MD to take on the Lady Eagles of Coppin State on Saturday at 2 pm.