DOVER, Del. — It has been a long and sometimes, challenging season for the Howard University women's basketball team as it heads down the stretch of the regular season. The defending MEAC champs and preseason favorite, the Lady Bison have been plagued by a variety of injuries that has contributed to the team's inconsistence and lack of offensive production.
Despite that, Coach Ty Grace has kept it together through constant encouragement and reminding the team to stay the course and never quit.

Coach Grace is now looking like somewhat of a prophet as Howard (9-11, 5-2 in the MEAC) has reeled off three straight wins, climbing back in the MEAC race at 5-2, good for a second-place tie with Norfolk State and two games behind league leader, Morgan State, who is undefeated at 7-0. The Lady Bison lost to them both early in the season and will have a chance to make it interesting when they meet for the second time in the next two weeks.

HU will get a chance to extend their streak when they travel to Dover, Delaware, to take on the Hornets of Delaware State (4-14, 2-5 in the MEAC) on Saturday at 2 pm.

Howard continues to rely on the scoring of junior guard Destiny Howell, who leads the league in scoring (16.0 per game) and graduate guard Aziah Hudson, who is scoring 12.2 points per game. The duo can torch defenses with their 3-point marksmanship while still being able to get to the free-throw line.

Senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis has been the team's most consistent rebounder and has shown the ability to score as she put up a 19-point, nine rebound effort in the win over the Hornets in January.

Junior guard Kaniyah Harris has taken over the floor generalship from senior point guard Iyanna Warren, who has missed the last eight games with an injury. Her return is unknown.
Harris is having her best season and leads the MEAC in assist/turnover ratio.

Freshman Nile Miller has begun to come into her own and adds both scoring and rebounding during the current streak. But the biggest boost to the team's chances of repeating is the return of senior forward Krislyn Marsh, who missed games before returning to the lineup the past three games. Her defense and rebounding are keys to the effectiveness of the Bison defense.
In Delaware State, Howard faces a team that gave them a scare in the conference opener. The Lady Bison had a 13-pont lead, only to have the Hornets go on a furious rally and cut the deficit to one and possession late in the game. Howard forced a five-second call and escape with the victory.

It is important to note that Howell sat out that game with an injury and did not play.

The Hornets enter the game with a two-game losing streak, most recently a 64-63 setback at Coppin State on Monday.
 
Delaware State is led by freshman guard/forward Savannah Brooks (10.0 ppg), and senior guards Alexis Moragne and Denijsha Wilson, who each average nine points apiece.

MEAC NOTES:  Howard leads the MEAC in free-throw shooting (70-percent as a team), in assist/turnover ratio, in assists/turnover ratio and in average attendance (1,284). The Bison are second in 3-pointers made and in assists (11.6 per game). Individually, Howell leads all players in scoring (16.0 per game) and is second in 3-pointers made and 3-point field goal percentage…Hudson is third in free-throw shooting (77-percent) and seventh in scoring (12.2 per game) …Fort-Davis is 10^th in rebounding (5.6 per game) …Harris leads the MEAC in assists (almost six per game) and in assist/turnover ratio…Kaiya Creek is seventh in blocked shots.
Delaware State is second in 3-point shooting and third in 3-point defense.

THE SERIES: Howard leads the series, 19-11, dating back to 2005. The Lady Bison have won 12 straight against Delaware State.

NEXT UP: Howard hosts University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday at 5:30 pm in the Burr.

Contributors: Chevonne Mansfield and Jalisa Fulwood