BALTIMORE (February 17, 2023) – After suffering through several injuries to some key plays and a lack of scoring from its bench during the early part of the season, the Howard University women's basketball team appears to have gained the confidence that vaulted them to a serious championship run in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
 
The Lady Bison (11-11, 7-2 MEAC) have won five straight, the latest an 80-59 decision over Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) at home Monday (Feb. 13).
 
Howard will get another chance to build its resume when it goes on a four-game road trek, starting with Coppin State (5-18, 2-6 MEAC) in Baltimore Saturday (Feb. 18) at 2 p.m.
 
The game will be streamed on www.coppin.edu/watch and live stats will be available.
 
Howard has used a formula that features the scoring of the dynamic duo of junior guard Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.) and graduate guard Aziah Hudson (Massapequa, N.Y.), in addition to a rock-solid defense that has limited its opponents to an average of under 50 points.

"I think we have been intentional about defending better. We struggled early on and we're giving up a lot of points. Lately, we've taken a little bit more pride in guarding teams and getting stops consistently. We've also seen more shots falling and better execution on offense. I'm glad we were able to take a positive turn going into this point of the season," shared head coach Ty Grace.
 
Howell, a preseason first team All-MEAC selection, is showing why she is one of the premier players in the league. Mostly regarded as a long-range sharpshooter, Howell has begun to imprint the game with her improving all-around play as she showed in the win over UMES. Howell added a career-high five assists, two steals and a block to her team-leading 25 points.
 
Hudson started the season as a key reserve before she was elevated to a starting role. The veteran transfer from Old Dominion University has become the symbol of consistency as she ranks among the conference leaders in scoring and 3-point shooting. Howell's presence has allowed Hudson to keep the defense honest.
 
Senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis (Chicago) has continued to provide defense and rebounding and, as of late, she has gotten some much-needed help from graduate forward Krislyn Marsh (Houston), who has returned to the lineup after an extended absence due to an injury. The duo are both preseason second team All-MEAC selections and are keys to the team's repeat. When asked about Marsh, Coach Graced stated, "It's been great to having Kris back into the lineup. She brings a different energy than anyone else. Her effort and intensity forces teams to know where she is on the floor, or she can hurt you. She's so active and aggressive on the glass and relentless on defense. I know the time away made her more eager to get back and she's doing her best to help us win." 
 
As important as Fort-Davis and Marsh are to the Bison, junior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, Md.) has been equally crucial. When team captain and floor general Iyanna Warren (Accokeek, Med.) went out with an injury 11 games ago, Harris was handed the responsibility of running the team. Harris, who leads the conference in assists and in assists/turnover ratio, has also quietly been a big help on the boards.
 
Freshman forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) and sophomore guard Nyla Cooper (Fayetteville, N.C.) have both made important contributions to the streak.
 
Coppin State is led by sophomore forward Jewell Watkins (15.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg), redshirt junior guard Mossi Staples (14.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg), redshirt sophomore Coleen Bucknor (7.2 rpg)  and redshirt sophomore guard Hope Evans (3.0 assists per game).

"We know Coppin will put up a lot of threes," said Grace. "Our defensive awareness needs to be sharp. We can't let them sit on the three point line and take uncontested shots. It will only be a factor if we let it. Hopefully, we will be very focused and limit them as much as possible." 
 
MEAC STATS: Howard leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio and second in 3-pointers made per game (6.1), assists (11.7), 3-point shooting percentage (30-percent), free-throw shooting (70-percent) and field goal percentage defense (38-percent). The team currently sits third in blocked shots (3.3).
 
Individually, Howell is having another all-conference season, leading the MEAC in scoring (16.4 ppg) and field-goal percentage (41-percent) and second in 3-point shooting (36 percent) and third in 3-pointers made per game (2.5). Hudson is fourth in free-throw shooting (75-percent), fifth in 3-pointers made per game (1.9) and sixth in scoring (12.6 point per game). Harris leads the conference in both assists and in assists/turnover ratio. Junior forward Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) is seventh in blocked shots.
 
Coppin State leads the MEAC in 3-pointers made per game (6.3) and third in free-throw shooting (68-percent).
 
Individually, Watkins leads the conference in minutes played and 3-pointers made (2.6 per game) and second in scoring (15.2 points per game) and eighth in free-throw shooting (64-percent). Staples is second in minutes played and free-throw shooting (78-percent) and sixth in assists and steals. Evans ranks fourth in assists (2.8 per game).
 
SERIES RECORD: Howard leads the series, 18-7, since 2006. The Bison have won 13-in-a-row, the latest a 62-58 decision back on January 23 in D.C. The last time Coppin State won was 83-67 during the 2015-16 season in The District.
 
NEXT UP: Howard continues its current road trip in Baltimore when it takes on conference leader Morgan State Monday (Feb. 20) at 5:30 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.


Contributors: Jalisa Fulwood and Chevonne Mansfield