WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the third time this season, senior Sydni Johnson scored 21 points but it wasn't enough to lift the Howard University women's basketball team over Morgan State in a 73-72 loss on Monday night in Burr Gymnasium.
The Bison drop to 11-12 overall and 7-4 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) action, while the Lady Bears improve to 5-19 (3-8 MEAC).
A controversial foul call with 0.4 seconds remaining in the game sent MSU to the line, where Tykyrah Williams sank both attempts for the final score.
Johnson went 9-for-13 from the floor and tallied nine points in just the fourth quarter. Freshman Sarah Edmond posted a pair of career marks on eight assists and eight rebounds. She also had seven points and two blocks.
Redshirt senior Te'Shya Heslip and redshirt junior Erin Blaine recorded 13 and 12 points, respectively. Freshman Jayla Myles also pulled down seven rebounds.
Howard beat Morgan State in the paint, 36-28, and notched 14 points on fast breaks. The Bison were 28-of-59 (47.5%) from the field but the Lady Bears were able to go 7-for-16 (43.8%) from beyond the arc.
MSU scored eight unanswered points to start the game and stretched it to a 17-6 lead by the first media timeout at 5:01. By the end of the first quarter, the Bison were down 23-16.
Senior Jasmine Hill had five straight points as part of HU's 14-9 run to open the second period, which brought team within six, 26-20, with 7:56 on the clock. Johnson hit a three-pointer before Heslip stole the ball and put it in to tie the score at 33. Howard took its first lead at 36-35 on another dagger from long range by Johnson. The Bison closed the quarter on a 17-2 sprint over the final 5:34 to head into the locker room up 40-35. The Lady Bears did not attempt a free throw during the first 20 minutes of play.
MSU quickly sped past Howard on an 18-4 run that put the visitor ahead 53-44 with 4:53 left in the third period. Edmond had a sweet behind the back pass to Blaine in the paint, who went up strong for the basket to cut the deficit to 53-50. Blaine turned around and converted the three-point play to help HU to a 12-0 run and a 54-53 lead. Myles ended the quarter with a pair at the charity stripe for a 56-55 lead.
The fourth quarter featured three ties and five lead changes. A layup by Johnson gave Howard a 60-55 advantage at the 7:28 mark. MSU responded with eight straight points to regain the upper hand, 63-60. Heslip hit a three-pointer before making two layups for a 71-69 edge with 25.3 seconds to go. A layup by the Lady Bears locked the score at 71 but a free throw by Johnson gave HU a 72-71 lead with 3.1 seconds left in the game. Unfortunately, the late foul call and free throws let MSU take the advantage in the end, 73-72.
Williams had 20 points for the Lady Bears, followed by Zuri White with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Howard returns to the court on Saturday, Feb. 18 when it takes on North Carolina A&T at 2 p.m. in The Burr.
