WASHINGTON (February 12, 2018) – Sophomore Ayonna Williams scored a career-high 29 points, but the Howard University Women's Basketball team came up short against the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks, 83-79, inside the Burr.
 
With the loss, Howard (10-14, 6-5 MEAC) saw its three-game winning snapped while the Hawks improved to 8-16 (5-7 MEAC) on the season.
 
Despite holding the Hawks under 33-percent (28-of-85) shooting, Coach Ty Grace and the Bison were plagued by 22 turnovers.
 
"We turned the ball over in crucial moments and that's been our Achilles heel a lot of the season," Grace stated. "I talked to my team about taking care of the ball and when we have an aggressive team like Maryland Eastern Shore, who's going to play the passing lanes, we got to be smarter."
 
Maryland Eastern Shore dominated the glass, 60-39, which contributed to 26 second chance points.
 
After trailing at the break, 45-39, the Bison started the second half slow by committing turnovers on its first two possessions.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore used a strong third quarter to help stretch its lead to as much as 16 points with 5:47 left in the period. They capitalized on four Howard turnovers to help build their lead and controlled the paint.
 
Williams scored 11 of her 29 points over the latter part of the quarter and helped the Bison get back in the game.
 
Sophomore Asia McCants hit a pair of free throws with 2.5 seconds left to give Howard the lead, 64-63, before the Hawks' Ciani Byrom hit a buzzer beating three-pointer to give Maryland Eastern Shore the lead back entering the fourth quarter.
 
In the fourth, both teams went back-and-forth before Maryland Eastern Shore pulled away late as Byrom and Jordyn Smith hit clutch buckets coming down the stretch to close the game out.
 
McCants added 14 points and four steals (game-high) off the bench while fellow classmate Imani Bryant blocked six shots in a losing effort.