MACON, Ga. (December 21, 2017) – Coach Ty Grace and the Howard University Women's Basketball team ended its three-game road swing with a loss at Mercer, 70-44.
 
HU held a double-digit advantage after one, 21-8, but the Bears rallied and outscored Howard in the final three periods 62-23.
 
Sophomore Sarah Edmond reached double-figures, finishing with a team-high 15 points.
 
In the first period, sophomore Danielle Griffin made a layup and extended the Bison's lead to double-digits, 17-6, with under three minutes left. After one, HU held a commanding 13-point advantage, 21-8.
 
With more than six minutes before intermission, sophomore Ayonna Williams made a fast-break layup and pushed the lead back to 13 points, 27-14. From that point on, the Bears would gradually chip away at the deficit.
 
In the final six minutes, Mercer outscored HU, 21-5, and held a five-point lead at the break. Mercer's Keke Calloway connected on a trey ball and gave the Bears its first lead of the game, 33-32, with more than a minute remaining before halftime.
 
Williams chipped in nine points while senior Tajzhane Dopson had team-bests in rebounds (8) and dimes (6).
 
Mercer opened the third scoring 10 unanswered and ballooned the margin to double-digits, 47-32. Howard fought back and sliced the deficit down to 10 points after going on a 10-5 run to close out the third, 52-42.
 
A pair of freebies from sophomore Asia McCants trimmed the deficit back to 10 points, 54-44, with less than nine minutes remaining; however, those free throws would be the final two points for HU as they were held scoreless for the rest of the game. 
 
For Mercer (11-2), Calloway recorded a game-high 30 points, nine boards, and six steals in the victory.
 
Howard ends 2017 with a pair of home contests inside The Burr.
 
On Dec. 29, HU hosts Campbell at 5 p.m. Two days later (Dec. 31), the Bison face Brown on New Year's Eve. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.