WASHINGTON - The Howard University women's basketball team will look to extend its streak to two games when it hosts North Carolina Central University in a key Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3 pm.  The game will be streamed on the HU athletics website (www.hubison.com) and there will be live stats available.

The Lady Bison (7-11, 3-2 in the MEAC) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 62-58 victory over Coppin State University on Monday. Junior all-conference guard Destiny Howell (Queens, NY) led the way with 20 points while graduate guard Aziah Hudson (Massapequa, NY) and senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis (Chicago, IL) chipped in with 14 and 10, respectively. But the much-welcomed return of graduate forward Krislyn Marsh (Houston, TX) along with the improved play of freshman forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, NJ) and a rebound performance by junior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, MD), was just what the doctor ordered.

Marsh, who had missed the past 10 games with an injury, scored seven points and added seven rebounds in 20 productive minutes of play off the bench. Miller contributed six points and five rebounds and Harris returned to her usual steady play with four points, six rebounds and five assists. One of the nation's leaders in assists to turnover ratio, Harris had a career-high six turnovers to only one assist the previous loss to Morgan State.

One of the things that Howard Head Coach Ty Grace has been preaching during the team's slide has been sharing the ball and improving team defense. The choir must have listened because the Lady Bison recorded 16 assists on 24 baskets and scored 28 points in the paint. Defensively, Howard limited the Eagles to 25-percent shooting (19-of-75) while forcing them to miss 25 of the 34 shots taken from 3-point range.

Howard will face the Eagles who are on a three-game win streak after disposing of Maryland Eastern Shore, 82-77, on Monday at home. HU and NC Central are currently tied for third place in the MEAC with 3-2 conference records.

NCCU (9-11, 3-2 MEAC) is led by freshman guard Jerni Klaku (12.1 3.5 rpg), redshirt junior guard Kemiera Burks (11.8 ppg), redshirt senior guard Kira Lowery (8.0, team leader in assists, 5.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and junior forward Blessing Okoh.

SERIES RECORD: Howard is 13-2 in the series, dating back to 2011. The Bison edged the Eagles, 65-63 in Burr last February. NCCU's last win came in 2019 when it defeated the Howard, 89-71 in Durham, NC.

MEAC LEADERS: Howard leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio and in free-throw shooting (70-percent) and is second in assists (11.4) and in 3-pointers made (5.7). Individually, Howell leads the MEAC in scoring (15.3 ppg), and is third in 3-pointers made per game (2.2 ppg) and in field goal percentage (38-percent).  Harris is first in assists (3.7) and in assist/turnover ratio. Fort-Davis is 10th in rebounding. Hudson is seventh in scoring (12.1) and fifth in 3-pointers made. Junior guard Kaiya Creek is seventh in blocked shots.

NCCU leads the conference in field goal percentage (41-percent), in 3-point shooting (33-percent), in blocked shots (4.2) and in assists (13.4). Burks leads the MEAC in 3-point shooting (42-percent) and in 3-pointers made (2.7). Lowery is second in assist/turnover ratio and third and in assists. Okoh is fifth in blocks and Kiaku is sixth in scoring (12.1).

NEXT UP: The Bison take on the Bulldogs of SC State on Monday, Jan. 30 at 5:30 pm in the Burr.