GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Howard University women's basketball team has made its way to The Gate City to face North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Jan. 21 in Corbett Sports Center. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup is set to tip at 2 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt junior Erin Blaine tallied her first double-double of the season on 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Howard (7-8, 3-0 MEAC) in its 66-58 win over Coppin State on Monday afternoon.
Senior Sydni Johnson added 14 points and pulled down five rebounds and classmate Jasmine Hill posted 13 points. Junior Tajzhane Dopson pounded the glass for the Bison with all seven of her rebounds coming on the defensive end.
Redshirt senior Te'Shya Heslip notched 14 points, six steals, five assists and four boards. Heslip scored all of her points in the second half and made 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.
The Bison continued to get the job done at the free throw line as they made 19-of-25 attempts for a 76.0 percent clip. The home team also outscored the Eagles in the paint, 38-26, and recorded 18 points off fast break opportunities.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
NC A&T picked up its first road win of the season with a 67-62 victory at Morgan State on Monday. The Aggies had four players in double figures, paced by a team-high 17 points and seven rebounds from Charnise Tyler.
Heading into Saturday's contest, the Aggies stand seventh in the MEAC with a 6-12 overall record and 2-3 conference mark. Dana Brown ranks 10th in three-point field goal percentage (30.8) and 11th in scoring with 12.4 ppg. Aliyah Kilpatrick is first in assists/turnover ratio (1.7), second in steals (2.9) and fifth in assists (3.3).
GOING STREAKING
The Bison are currently riding a five-game win streak, including a trio of victories on their home court in the nation's capital. It is the longest streak under second-year head coach Ty Grace. In the quintet of triumphs, Howard is averaging 69.0 points.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Heslip has been Howard's leader on both sides of the ball this season. She is averaging 4.33 steals, which puts her third among the NCAA Division I statistical leaders. Her 65 total thefts ranks seventh and 5.5 apg is 33rd. She has a team-best 15.9 ppg and leads the MEAC in free throw percentage (78.8), steals and assists.
CHARITY STRIPE LIVING
The Bison have done a good job of making trips to the free throw line count. Howard is converting free throws at a 70.5 percent rate, making 210 of 298 attempts. The mark currently leads the conference.
CLIMBING THE RANKS
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 Dec. 16 against NJIT, bringing her career total to 531 boards. The Homewood, Ill. native also has 958 points thus far.
HOWARD IN THE MEAC
As a team, the Bison have the second-best scoring offense in the league, averaging 63.8 ppg. Howard also checks in at No. 1 in free throw percentage (70.5), second in assists (12.4), third in field goal percentage (37.0) and fourth in steals (10.1).
