WASHINGTON (November 28, 2017) – Coach Ty Grace and the Howard University Women's Basketball team earned its first win of the season after edging out Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU), 68-65, inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
HU (1-5) shared the rock, scoring 23 baskets on a season-high 16 assists.
 
Sophomore guard Sarah Edmond led the way, recording a game-high 19 points, five dimes, and five steals. Newcomer Tariah Johnson filled the stat sheet with 10 points, eight boards, two assists, two blocks, and two steals in the victory.
 
After holding a double-digit halftime lead, 38-20, HU extended its advantage after a jumper from sophomore Jayla Myles, 44-23. Edmond drilled a jumper and gave the Bison its largest lead of the game, 53-28, with three minutes left in the third. FDU built momentum at the end of the third, finishing the period on an 8-2 spurt.
 
Midway through the fourth, Fairleigh Dickinson's Madelynn Comly drilled a long ball and cut the Bison's lead down to single-digits, 59-50, with 5:26 remaining.
 
A pair of free throws from sophomore Danielle Griffin extended Howard's advantage back to double-digits, but the Knights made one final run.
 
FDU's Natalie Zamora connected on a three-pointer and sliced the margin down to seven, 63-56, with 2:33 left. Fairleigh Dickinson chipped away at the deficit and made the contest a one-possession game after a long ball from Lauren Francillon, 67-65, with 19 ticks remaining.
 
Sophomore Asia McCants split a pair of free throws and forced the Knights to take a game-tying three-pointer as time expired that missed long.
 
Senior Tajzhane Dopson tied a team-best eight rebounds while registering four assists, four points and three steals.
 
Howard opened the game on an 8-0 run before Francillon ended the Knights' scoring drought with two freebies. After one, HU held a six-point advantage, 19-13.
 
Within less than five minutes before intermission, Griffin made a layup and pushed the Bison's lead to double-digits, 26-15. FDU could not find a rhythm as they went over six minutes without scoring; thus, HU capitalized and held an 18-point advantage at the break, 38-20.
 
For FDU (5-2), they made 11 three-pointers. Comly had a team-high 16 points and six boards while Zamora and Amina Markovic each netted 11 points in a losing effort.
 
Howard continues its home stretch Saturday (Dec. 2) when Florida International comes calling. Saturday's showdown starts 2 p.m. at The Burr.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.