GAME NOTES | LIVE VIDEO
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard University women's basketball team will host a pair of contests in Burr Gymnasium, starting with North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. The Bison will face North Carolina Central on Monday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. for their annual #Play4Kay game.
LAST TIME OUT
For the third time this season, Sydni Johnson scored 21 points but it wasn't enough to lift Howard over Morgan State in a 73-72 loss on Monday. A controversial foul call with 0.4 seconds remaining in the game sent MSU to the line, where the Lady Bears sank both attempts for the final score.
Johnson went 9-for-13 from the floor and tallied nine points in just the fourth quarter. Sarah Edmond posted a pair of career marks on eight assists and eight rebounds. Te'Shya Heslip and Erin Blaine recorded 13 and 12 points, respectively. Jayla Myles also pulled down seven rebounds.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
N.C. A&T picked up its third straight win by defeating South Carolina State, 66-54, on Monday. The victory pushed the Aggies to an 11-13 overall record and 7-4 in the MEAC. Aliyah Kilpatrick and Dana Brown pace the team with 11.1 points, while Alexus Lessears is averaging 6.0 rebounds.
The Bison are looking to avenge a 63-55 road loss to N.C. A&T in January. Heslip had a game-high 16 points and Edmond chipped in nine points and three boards.
ASSESSING THE LADY EAGLES
NCCU is riding a three-game win streak after taking down Florida A&M, 52-49. The Lady Eagles improved to 6-17 (5-6 MEAC). During the streak, Morgan Jones is averaging 18.0 points and 3.3 steals per game. Jones leads the team and is the only player in double figures with 12.4 points per outing.
When Howard made the trip to Bull City in January, the Bison cruised to a 73-50 triumph behind 21 points from Johnson. Star Fitzgerald-Greer also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds. HU scored 44 of its points in the paint.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Heslip has been Howard's leader on both sides of the ball this season. She is averaging 3.7 steals, which puts her fifth among the NCAA Division I statistical leaders. Her 87 total thefts ranks seventh and 5.0 assists is 56th. She leads the MEAC in steals, assists and free throw percentage (76.9), while checking in at third in scoring with a team-high 15.0 points.
IT'S COLD IN THE BURR
Howard has been giving its opponent a tough time when they come to Burr Gymnasium. The Bison are 6-2 in its on-campus facility. Howard had won five straight games on its court before dropping its first conference game at home this season.
EDMOND FOR ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
For the second consecutive week, Edmond was named MEAC Rookie of the Week. The Freeport, N.Y. native averaged 10.5 points and three assists in two games for the Bison. She scored a career-high 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting in a win over Hampton – marking the first time Howard has won at Hampton since 2002. Edmond also had three assists and two blocks in that game. She also chipped in six points and three assists against Bethune-Cookman.
BISON IN CONFERENCE PLAY
Through 11 MEAC contests, Johnson, Heslip and Blaine are averaging double figures for Howard. In conference action, Johnson is putting up 14.7 ppg, followed by Heslip (13.5) and Blaine (10.9). Johnson is shooting a team-best 50.7 percent from the floor and Heslip is connecting on 74.5 percent (38-51) of her free throws. Blaine paces the team in rebounding (7.4).
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 66.9 percent rate, making 309 of 462 attempts. The mark is currently second the conference.
HOWARD IN THE MEAC
As a team, the Bison have the second-best scoring offense in the league, averaging 63.4 points per game. Howard also checks in at No. 2 in free throw percentage (66.9) and assists (12.3), third in field goal percentage (37.6) and fourth in steals (9.3).
