WASHINGTON (November 6, 2023) - Howard University women's basketball placed four players in double figures but it was not enough to overcome a 29-point point effort by Nya Roberts as the Bison dropped their season opener, 64-58, to George Washington University (GW) in a nonconference matchup at the Smith Center.
 
Howard (0-1), playing without team-leading scorer and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Player of the Year Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.), fell behind 24-9 in the first quarter. Without their leading scorer, the young Bison could have folded, but they settled down and used a 9-3 second quarter advantage to get to 32-28 at the half.
 
"We just didn't shoot the ball well in the first quarter, so obviously we dug ourselves a hole that we weren't expecting to have," said Howard Head Coach Ty Grace. "So (in the second quarter) we obviously shot the ball better. We switched up and guarded them a little differently. We went man-to-man and kind of tried to mix up some things. So, they were hurting us in our zone and we just started to guard a little bit better, so it helped us. And then we were scoring on the offensive end."
 
Graduate guard Iyanna Warren (Accokeek, Md.) and redshirt freshman Tyanna Walker (Leawood, Kan.) combined for all nine of the team's second quarter points during the run.
 
The Revolutionaries (1-0) of the A-10 put together an 11-3 run to start the third quarter that opened an 11-point lead.
 
Howard had no answer for Roberts and when she cooled off, there was teammates Nya Lok and Essence Brown, who scored seven of their team' last 11 points down the stretch. 
 
But the feisty Bison refused to go away and used the scoring of senior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, Md.) and junior forward Vanessa Blake (Summerville, S.C.) to get within four before GW was able to put it away with some free throw shooting down the stretch.
 
Walker (16 points) and Blake (13 points) tallied career highs while Warren and Harris contributed 11 and 10, respectively. Harris completed a double-double with 10 rebounds (eight offensive).
 
"They hit that three at the end of the half and then going into the third quarter they kept the momentum offensively," Grace continued. "So, we just need to do a better job defensively with teams that can penetrate and get to the rim. They (GW) shot the ball really well tonight. Obviously, when a team is going on a run it is going to hurt you. We did not close the gap. We missed some defensive possessions and they hit some tough shots."
 
Grace adds that she is pleased with the play of the young players in particular.
 
"That's why I brought them to Howard. So, they can contribute when they get the opportunity," she noted. "I told them they just need to be ready to play. Janyah did a good job being active and being aggressive, looking to score. Vanessa — she had a double-double tonight — so she did what she came here to do. Sa'lah— she came in and just had good energy. So, they're all going to get opportunities. When their number is called, they just need to be ready to go in and help us win."
 
Howard will have to put this loss behind them quickly as they prepare to host Mount Saint Mary's.
 
"We've got to rebound, we've got to execute better, and hopefully this game showing that we didn't die after that first quarter will give them a little momentum going into Mount St. Mary's."
 
NEXT UP: Howard hosts Mount Saint Mary's Thursday (Nov. 9) at 7 p.m. inside The Burr.
 
For more information visit the Howard Athletics website www.HUBison.com.