LIVE STREAM | GAME NOTES
NORFOLK, Va. – The Howard University women's basketball team is headed into the 2017 MEAC Tournament with its highest seeding under second-year head coach Ty Grace. The No. 2 Bison will start the postseason in a quarterfinal matchup with No. 7 North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, Mar. 8 at 2 p.m. in Scope Arena.
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Howard (16-12, 12-4 MEAC) is headed into the midweek contest on a five-game win streak after closing out the regular season with a 93-76 win at Delaware State. In the victory, redshirt junior Erin Blaine earned a double-double on a career-high 27 points and 13 rebounds. Rookie Sarah Edmond had a career outing with 21 points, while seniors Sydni Johnson and Te'Shya Heslip chipped in 11 points apiece.
Howard is having one of its best showings on the court in the last decade as its 16 overall wins and 12 conference victories this season are the most since the 2012-13 season.
N.C. A&T made it to the quarterfinals by defeating N.C. Central, 71-58, on Tuesday afternoon. The Bison and Aggies split the home-and-home series during the regular season. N.C. A&T outlasted Howard 63-55 in Greensboro before the Bison claimed a 69-61 triumph in the nation's capital.
The Bison are coming into the tournament with the MEAC's Player of the Year after Heslip received the honor on Friday. She is the seventh player and first since 2011 from the Hilltop to claim the title. She also nabbed All-MEAC First Team honors.
Johnson joined in on the celebration by being named to the All-MEAC Third Team. Freshman Sarah Edmond and Jayla Myles were placed on the All-MEAC Rookie Team to round out the conference accolades.
Heslip continues to rank among the nation's statistical leaders as her 3.6 steals per contest is fourth and 102 total thefts stands sixth. She is also 43rd in assists per game (5.1) and 67th in total assists (144). She leads the conference in steals and assists, while her 15.1 points checks in at No. 3.
Howard has the top scoring offense in the MEAC, averaging 65.1 points. The squad is second in assists (12.6) and field goal percentage (38.1), and third in free throw shooting (66.7).
