WASHINGTON (January 19, 2023) - The Howard University women's basketball team will look to rebound from a tough 64-37 road loss at Norfolk State (Jan. 14) when it hosts Morgan State University (MSU) in a big Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest Saturday (Jan. 21) in Burr Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be steamed on HUBison.com (www.HUBison.com) and also on HSRN (www.hsrn.com).
 
The Lady Bison (6-10, 2-1 MEAC) started out in a nip-and-tuck battle with the Spartans, trailing only 12-10 at the end of the first quarter. The team hit a cold shooting spell, allowing Norfolk State to outscore them 21-5 in the second quarter that all but sealed the outcome.
 
The Bison's two leading scorers, junior guard Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.) and graduate Aziah Hudson (Massapequa, N.Y.), who are both deadly shooters, combined to go 3-for-19 from beyond the arc to finish with 15 points, almost 12 points below their averages.
 
"We did not shoot well at all against Norfolk State," said Howard Head Coach Ty Grace. "Shots we typically make, just didn't fall. However, we must find other ways to score when those shots aren't falling, whether it's offensive rebounding, or in transition. We have to stay confident, trust our offense and execute when the opportunity is there."
 
Howard got a team-leading 10 points from senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis (Chicago) and another solid game from junior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, Md.), who did not score but contributed five assists (zero turnovers) and four rebounds.
 
"Kaniyah and Aziah are obviously important to this team," said Coach Grace. "Everyone has a role and their roles are big on both ends of the court. Their consistency and ability to affect the game positively is needed as we push further into the season. I'm confident they will continue to do that, along with the rest of the team."
 
In Morgan State (9-6, 2-0 MEAC), Howard faces a formidable opponent. The Lady Bears enter the game having won its last two, the latest a 61-46 victory over crosstown foe Coppin State on the road. A veteran team, MSU is led by graduate forward Charlene Shepherd (14.3 ppg, 7.0 rebounds & seven total blocks), senior guard Ja'Niah Harris (13.6 ppg) and senior forward Sunshine McCrae (7.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg).
 
"The Howard-Morgan State game is always competitive," commented Coach Grace on the matchup. "It's the type of game that challenges your toughness and grit. As far as concerns, we understand what we are facing with a team like Morgan; we need to play our game and tempo. We have to get back to being intentional about rebounding and playing solid team defense."
 
MEAC NOTES: Statistically, HOWARD leads the MEAC in assist/turnover ratio while second in free-throw shooting (70-percent), assists (11.6 per game) and turnover margin and third in blocks (3.5 per game). Individually, Howell is second in scoring (14.6 ppg). Hudson is seventh in scoring (11.8 ppg) and fifth in 3-pointers made. Fort-Davis is fifth in free-throw shooting (74-percent) and 10^th in rebounding (5.7 rpg). Creek is tied for fifth in total blocked shots (13). Harris ranks third nationally in assists/turnover ratio and she leads the MEAC in assists (3.8 apg).
 
MORGAN STATE leads the MEAC in steals (11.5 per game) and turnover margin and second in both team defense (57 ppg) and three-point field goal shooting defense (27-percent). Individually, Shepherd ranks third in the conference in scoring (14.3 ppg), free-throw shooting (79-percent) and tied for third in steals (2.3 spg). Harris is second in steals (2.5 spg), fifth in scoring (13.3 ppg) and eighth in assists (2.4 apg).
 
THE SERIES: The two teams have split the last 10 meetings with Howard snapping a three-game losing streak, 81-63, last year. Morgan State has a slight edge at 12-9 in meetings since 2005.
 
NEXT UP: Howard plans to host Coppin State in another MEAC contest Monday (Jan. 23) at 5:30 p.m. in The Burr.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.

Contributors: Jalisa Fulwood and Chevonne Mansfield