WASHINGTON (January 16, 2021) – Howard University women's basketball team overcame an early 10-point deficit to down Coppin State (CSU), 60-52, inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
With the win, HU improved to 6-2 (2-1 MEAC) while the Eagles fell to 1-4 (1-2 MEAC) on the season. Additionally, the Bison won their fifth straight home game dating back to March 2020 and the program's first five-game home winning streak in four years (December 2016 to January 2017).
 
Freshman Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) led the charge with a team-leading 12 points and four boards. Guards Jayla Thornton (Newark, N.J.) and Iyanna Warren (Accokeek, Md.) each tallied 11 points apiece in the win.
 
"When you can have balance among your team, it gives you options and your opponents have to make adjustments," said Howard women's basketball head coach Ty Grace. "We have a team of players with different skills and strengths. They all contribute in their own way."
 
Sophomore forward Makayla Minett (Chicago) made a layup and tied the contest at 13, but the Eagles responded with 10 unanswered and put CSU ahead double-digits at the 7:48 mark in the second period, 13-23.
 
HU fought back and sliced the margin down to four before halftime after Warren's layup, 28-32.
 
"Everyone's contribution is always important, but I challenged our forwards at halftime," Grace stated. "We were not rebounding the way we are capable of. They accepted the challenge and made a difference in the second half."
 
Junior Krislyn Marsh (Houston) and sophomore Brooklynn Fort-Davis helped set the tone with their presence on the glass and defensively. Together, they pulled down 16 rebounds while the Houston native rejected four shots.
 
Howard turned up the heat defensively after intermission, holding the Eagles to under 19-percent (3-of-16) shooting, including 13-percent (1-of-8) behind the arc, in the third quarter.
 
Both squads were deadlocked at 37 with less than five minutes left in the third until HU closed the period on a 12-4 run and took an eight-point advantage into the fourth frame, 49-41.
 
Moments into the fourth, CSU's Aliyah Lawson split a pair of free throws and sliced the deficit to five, 49-44, but the Bison withstood Coppin State's late charge, thanks to third-year guard Gia Thorpe (Pittsburgh).
 
Thorpe led the way in the fourth to seal the deal, scoring all six points in crunch time while recording two boards and two steals.
 
"Gia is still trying to get her rhythm back offensively," Grace stated on her junior guard. "But her energy is something that ignites us, especially on the defensive end. She plays with a great motor and we need that from her consistently because it's one of her best assets. She's only going to get better."
 
HU won the turnover battle, 12-16, which was their second-lowest output this season.
 
"We talked about having composure and playing at our pace," Grace commented. "Obviously, we did not take care of the ball our last game (committing a season-high 31 turnovers), but I think we did a better job with our decision making this game. But we still have work to do."
 
Howard shot only 34-percent (22-of-64) from the floor, but Coach Grace would take more attempts rather than missed opportunities.
 
"We did not shoot great," Grace added. "But we got attempts instead of committing turnovers."
 
For Coppin State, Lawson had a game-high 16 points in the loss.
 
Both squads are set to play again Sunday (Jan. 17) at 2 p.m. inside The Burr.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.