Women's Basketball | 1/27/2017 4:16:00 PM
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – After a 1-1 road swing, the Howard University women's basketball team is back in the nation's capital to host a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) outings. The Bison will take on Savannah State on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. in Burr Gymnasium before facing South Carolina State on Monday, Jan. 30 at 4 p.m.
Both games will be streamed live through the link provided above.
LAST TIME OUT
Senior Sydni Johnson was in the zone as she tied her season-best with 21 points as she led Howard to a 73-50 win over North Carolina Central on Monday night. Classmate Jasmine Hill posted 12 points and redshirt junior Erin Blaine tallied 10 points and six boards.
Rookie Star Fitzgerald-Greer pulled down a career-high eight rebounds and chipped in six points, while redshirt senior Te'Shya Heslip added seven points, five assists and four rebounds.
Howard held NCCU to just 25 percent (16-64) shooting from the field. On the other hand, the Bison shot 46.6 percent (27-58) and scored 44 of their points in the paint. Howard also had 16 assists on its 27 baskets.
SCOUTING THE LADY TIGERS
Savannah State extended its win streak to four games after getting a 64-57 victory against Delaware State on Monday. Tiyonda Davis recorded a double-double on 11 points and 13 rebounds and Rhianna Warren added 15 points to pace the squad.
Heading into Saturday's game, the Lady Tigers are sitting behind Howard in fifth-place with a 6-13 overall record and 4-3 league mark. Davis ranks second in the MEAC in blocked shots (3.5) and fifth in rebounding (8.3). Warren holds the conference's second-best three-point field goal percentage (39.6).
LOOKING AT THE LADY BULLDOGS
South Carolina State is coming off a crushing 80-46 loss to top-ranked Hampton on Wednesday. Bryeasha Blair had 12 points and six boards, while JaQuanna Murray tallied seven rebounds, four points and three blocks in the defeat.
The Lady Bulldogs currently sit 10th in the MEAC standings on a 4-13 (1-5 MEAC) record. Although SC State is having a hard time finding its footing, Blair is averaging a team-high 17.5 points, which is second in the conference. She is also third in three-point field goal percentage (37.3) and Murray is third in blocked shots (2.4).
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Heslip has been Howard's leader on both sides of the ball this season. She is averaging 4.12 steals, which puts her third among the NCAA Division I statistical leaders. Her 70 total thefts ranks sixth and 5.2 assists is 41st. She leads the MEAC in steals and assists, while checking in third in free throw percentage (80.7) and fourth in scoring with a team-high 15.4 points per game.
IT'S COLD IN THE BURR
Howard had been giving its opponent a tough time when they come to Burr Gymnasium. The Bison are 4-1 in its on-campus facility and has not loss a conference game at home this season. HU has outscored its visitors by a 360-305 margin in Burr.
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 69.1 percent rate, making 235 of 340 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 542 boards. The Homewood, Ill. native also has 987 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 (69.1), second in assists (12.4), third in field goal percentage (37.3) and fourth in steals (9.8).
