Nassau, Bahamas (November 18, 2023) – Fifth-year guard Iyanna Warren (Accokeek, Md.) scored a team-high 18 points while redshirt freshman Tyana Walker (Leawood, Kan.) added 10 points but the Howard University women's basketball team came up short in a 67-54 loss to No. 23 Ole Miss in the first round of the Battle4Atlantis.
 
Despite the setback, HU (1-4) went toe-to-toe against its Southeastern Conference opponent, trailing only four after one, 17-13, but then put together a run and outscored the opposition by the same score (17-13) in the second stanza to go into halftime tied at 30 apiece.
 
"I was extremely proud of the team's effort today," said Howard Head Coach Ty Grace. "I knew the odds were against us, but we went in with a game plan and gave them our best shot. We showed up today."
 
The Rebels (4-1) threatened to get some distance between them, holding an 18-13 advantage, but the Bison were able to stay within striking distance at 48-43 at the end of three.
 
Walker then began to add some scoring for the Bison, but eventually, Ole Miss was able to pull away, outscoring the Bison 19-11 in the final stanza to secure the hard-fought win.
 
The Howard defense played well, limiting the Rebels to 36-percent shooting.
 
"Although they did a great job on the boards (46-36), we had a lot of good defensive possessions," Grace continued. "We were focused on both ends of the floor. Ole Miss is a great team."
 
Second-year Bison forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) finished with six points and six rebounds for Howard.
 
The Bison improved their free throw shooting, connecting 73-percent after a 10-for-21 performance in the loss to Mount Saint Mary's (Nov. 9).
 
"We still have a lot of work to do," Grace stated. "But games like this give us a glimpse of what we are truly capable of. No matter the opponent, the odds and circumstances. We will continue to pull it together. Hopefully, we can carry this level of focus into the rest of the season."
 
NEXT UP: Howard will take on Memphis Sunday (Nov. 19) at 5:30 p.m., in the next round of Battle4Atlantis.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.