DURHAM, N.C. -- The Howard University women's basketball team defeated the North Carolina Central University  Lady Eagles, Saturday afternoon 66-55 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play at McDougald-McLendon Arena.

NCCU struck first with a layup in the opening seconds, which sparked a 7-2 run to take an early lead with 8:33 left in the first quarter. Undeterred Howard's Iyanna Warren layup sparked an 11-0 run over the next five minutes to take a 13-7 lead with 2:48 remaining in the quarter. The Eagles ended their six-minute drought with a Paris McBride jumper to cut the lead,11-7 but Kaniyah Harris answered with a 3-pointer to extend the lead, 14-9. The Eagles and Bison traded baskets to end the first quarter 17-12.


The Bison led the entire second quarter as both squads played an even back-and-forth affair. Howard shot 44 percent from the floor and held the Eagles to 35.7 percent. NCCU went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. HU took a 36-32 lead into intermission.

The Eagles opened the third quarter with a 5-0 run to take a 37-36 lead with 7:43 left in the quarter. Howard's Destiny Howell sparked a 10-2 run after knocking down a pair of free throws; the Bison cap the run on a Brooklynn Fort-Davis pair of free throws with 3:58 to go in the third quarter. Howard ended the third quarter up 50-42.

The two squads played another back and forth quarter with the Eagles, cutting the lead 59-53 with 5:07 left in the game. But, the Bison closed the game on a 7-2 run to capture their third conference win and improve to 9-7 on the season and 3-1 in the MEAC.

Anzhane' Hutton paced the Bison scoring a team-high 19 points and 12 rebounds (9 def and 3 off) for her third double-double of the season. Howell joined Hutton in double figures recording 11 points. The Bison finished shooting 41 percent from the floor [24-of-59], Howard did struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 2-of-16. Defensively the Bison held the Eagles to 29 percent from the floor, recording 16 steals, five blocks, and forcing 28 turnovers. Howard recorded 30 points off those turnovers.

Up Next:

Howard travels south to Orangeburg, S.C. to face South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs Monday, Jan. 31, for a 5:30 pm tipoff. The Lady Bulldogs are coming off a 60-40 loss to Norfolk State to drop to 3-1 in conference play, 3-15 overall.