BALTIMORE - The Howard University women's basketball team had its season-best five -game win streak snapped in a 52-41 road loss at Coppin State on Saturday. The Lady Bison (11-12, 7-3 MEAC) will have to have a short memory as it takes on conference leader Morgan State on Monday at 5:30 pm.

In the setback at Coppin State, Howard went back to what had plagued the team prior to the recent streak. Graduate guard Aziah Hudson led the team with 15 points but no other players reached double figures. Team and conference scoring leader, junior guard Destiny Howell, finished with seven points, almost 10 points below her average.  Senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis finished with eight points and eight rebounds, but the other starters and the Lady Bison bench failed to contribute (only six points).

It does not get any easier as Howard faces a Morgan State (16-7, 9-1 MEAC) team hungry for a rebound win following a 74-37 blowout loss at Norfolk State for its first MEAC loss of the season and snapping a nine-game win streak.

Hudson will have to continue her production and Howell and mates will have to contribute more if the Lady Bison can close the gap with Morgan State and stay in the race for first place along with the Spartans. Howard will also have to do a better job of protecting the ball (they committed 26 turnovers in the loss to Morgan State on Jan. 21).

Morgan State is led by senior guard Ja'Niah Henson (14.7 ppg, leads team in assists with 49), senior forward Charlene Shepherd (14.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, team leader in steals and blocks) and graduate forward Taylor Addison (6.4 ppg,7.0 rpg).


MEAC STATS: Howard leads the conference in assists/turnover ratio, are second in 3-pointers made per game (6.1), in assists (11.7), in 3-point shooting percentage (30-percent), in free-throw shooting (70-percent) and in field-goal percentage defense (38-percent). Howard is third blocked shots (3.3). Individually, Howell is having another all-conference season, leading the MEAC in scoring (16.4 ppg) and in field-goal percentage (41-percent), 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 per game). Kaniyah Harris leads the conference in both assists and in assists/turnover ratio.  Kaiya Creek is seventh in blocked shots.

Morgan State leads the conference in free-throw shooting (71-percent) and in turnover margin (plus 5.6) and is second in in steals (11.5 per game), in 3-point shooting defense (26-percent) and in defense (allowing 57 points per game).  Individually, Henson third in scoring (14.7 ppg), and fourth in 3-point shooting and in steals.  Teammate Shepherd is also a stat filler, ranking third in steals, fourth in scoring (14.3 ppg) and in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and ninth in assists.  Addison ranks fifth in rebounding (7.0 rpg).

OTHER BISON NOTE: Howell and Hudson have combined for 92 of the team's made 3-pointers on the season.

SERIES RECORD: Morgan State leads the series, 13-9 dating back to 2006. The two met on January 21 and the Bears prevailed, 71-49, at Burr. Morgan State has won three of the last four.

NEXT UP
Howard continues its current road trip when it heads to Durham, NC to take on the Eagles of North Carolina Central next Saturday, February 25th at 2 pm.

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.


Conbtributors: Chevonne Mansfield and Jalisa Fulwood