WASHINGTON (March 16, 2022) – Howard University women's basketball team enters the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001 and will face Incarnate Word (13-16) in the First Four Round Wednesday (March 16) in Columbia, S.C. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
Wednesday's showdown will be the first time that the two programs have met.
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison (20-9) from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) come into the tournament having posted a 61-44 win over Norfolk State in the championship game Saturday (March 12). They limited their three opponents in the tournament to under 50 points and have won nine of their last 10 contests.
 
"I want us to compete at a high level, have fun and enjoy the game," said Howard women's basketball head coach Ty Grace regarding her expectations. "We need to do the things that got us here. If we do those things, we'll be in a good position to win."
 
The Bison are led by 5-11 sophomore guard Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.), who was named tournament outstanding player after scoring a career-high 25 in the championship game. Howell averages almost 13 points while also recording 39 total steals and 14 total blocks.
 
The Bison Triumvirate frontcourt of 6-0 sophomore forward Anzhane' Hutton (Dallas/11.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 26 blocks), 6-0 junior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis (Chicago/8.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and 6-0 senior forward Krislyn Marsh (Houston/7.4 points, 29 blocks) have combined for almost 20 rebounds per game.
 
The steady backcourt of 5-6 junior guard Iyanna Warren (Accokeek, Md.) and 5-9 sophomore guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, Md.) has proven to be an effective duo. Warren averages 8.6 points and over four assists per game while Harris has 73 total assists and leads the team in steals (45).
 
"It's a humbling experience," said Grace on representing the University, MEAC and HBCUs. "It's an honor and thankful to lead a great group of young women that will be able to represent their University. We're ready for this and hope we make the University proud."
 
BISON NOTES

• Howard is no stranger to NCAA tournament, making their sixth NCAA appearances (1982, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2022)
• Howard is the only HBCU program to have two players drafted and play in the WNBA (Karen Wilkins, 1998, & Andrea Gardner, 2022)
• There will be three players by the name of Destiny playing in Wednesday's clash: Destiny Terrell and Destiny Jenkins of Incarnate Word and Destiny Howell of Howard
• Seven players have 23 or more steals for the Bison, who are forcing almost 20 turnovers per game

 
INCARNATE WORD
 
The Cardinals are members of the Southland Conference and received the automatic bid by winning their tournament, securing four wins in four days.
 
They are led by their do-it-all sophomore guard Jaaucklyn Moore, who is averaging almost 18 points per game while also registering 48 total assists, 42 total steals and 16 blocked shots.
 
Moore is the only player in double figures, but Incarnate Word has gotten production from other players, including junior forward Tiana Gardner (8.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg), sophomore guard Destiny Terrell (8.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and graduate forward Jamie Means (3.7 ppg, team-leading 20 total blocks).
 
The Cardinals defeated Nichols State in the semifinals, 74-73, and then ran away from McNeese State, 90-63, in the championship game. They had lost three in a row before the tournament.
 
"It's going to be a solid matchup," Grace stated. "They're a scrappy team. They're going to be aggressive trying to get to the paint. If we continue to rebound, we'll have a good chance to win. It's going to be a good game."
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
On March 12, Howell poured in a career-high 25 points to lead the Bison to a 61-44 win over Norfolk State in the MEAC Tournament championship at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
 
With the victory, HU received the MEAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
The winner will take on the No. 1 overall seed South Carolina Gamecocks in the round of 64 Friday (March 18).

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.