WASHINGTON (February 8, 2018) - Coach Ty Grace and the Howard University Women's Basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to hold off the Hampton Lady Pirates, 68-63, in front of a raucous crowd at The Burr.

The Battle of the Real HU featured both squads meeting for the final time as members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with Hampton leaving the conference to join the Big South.
 
With the victory, Howard extended its winning streak to three games.
 
Howard was led by sophomore Asia McCants, scoring a career-high 16 points off the bench. Fellow classmate Imani Bryant also came off the bench, recording 11 boards and eight points in the win.
 
After trailing at intermission, 33-25, HU came out focused to start the second half, led by second-year guard Ayonna Williams.
 
The D.C. native scored seven of her 11 points in the period to lead the Bison. Freshman Jayla Thornton knocked down two long balls and helped Howard continue to chip away at the deficit.
 
After trailing for most of the game, Bryant split a pair of free throws to give the Bison a 42-41 lead with 2:26 left in the quarter.
 
The teams went back-and-forth for much of the fourth quarter. Hampton's K'Lynn Willis was called for a blocking foul with 1:28 remaining and McCants hit both free throws to put the Bison up 63-59. At that point, Howard would keep the Lady Pirates at bay. McCants went 9-of-10 from the foul line in fourth quarter.
 
Williams filled the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
 
Both teams struggled to get in any sort of offensive rhythm to start the game, missing several shots and struggling to take care of the basketball.
 
Hampton started the second quarter off with a 7-0 run to take a nine-point lead, 14-5. Throughout the period, turnovers and poor shooting continued to plague the Bison as Hampton took a 33-25 lead into the break.
 
Monnazjea Finney-Smith had a double-double with a team-high 15 rebounds and 12 points. Allina Starr also finished with a double-double, contributing 12 points and 10 boards. Willis and Ashley Bate each scored a team-high 13 points.
 
Next, the Bison host Maryland-Eastern Shore Monday (Feb. 12). Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. inside The Burr.