DURHAM, N.C. (February 25, 2023) – Howard University women's basketball team came up short, falling to North Carolina Central (NCCU), 56-51, inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
With the setback, HU dropped to 12-13 (8-4 MEAC) while the Eagles improved to 13-14 (7-5 MEAC).
 
Offensively, Howard was unable to get into a rhythm, shooting only 25-percent (17-of-68) on the afternoon.
 
Despite the shooting woes, three Bison reached double figures in scoring. Junior Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.), conference leading scorer, produced 16 points and eight rebounds while senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis (Chicago) notched her first double-double of the season with 12 boards (season-high) and 10 points.
 
HU held an eight-point advantage in the opening frame, thanks to Fort-Davis' putback layup, 13-5, but NCCU closed the gap to four after one, 15-11.
 
Both clubs went back-and-forth in the second period until a long ball from Tar Heel native Nyla Cooper (Fayetteville, N.C.) gave the Bison a double-digit cushion, 33-22, with more than a minute left before intermission. NCCU trimmed the deficit with back-to-back field goals and trailed only six at the break, 33-27.
 
After halftime, North Carolina Central reclaimed the lead after going on a 10-3 run, thanks to a layup from Aniya Finger, 37-36, but HU regained the upper hand late in the period and held a four-point lead after three, 43-39.
 
In the fourth, both squads were deadlocked at 45 apiece after a jumper from NCCU's Tippy Robertson. The momentum shifted in favor of North Carolina Central after Kimeira Burks was fouled on a three-pointer shot where she went to the charity stripe and made all three freebies to give the Eagles a 48-45 advantage with 4:47 remaining.
 
From that point, NCCU never relinquished the lead and held on to knock off the Bison.
 
Cooper came off the bench and tallied 12 points and three rebounds.
 
For North Carolina Central, Burks had a team-leading 16 points, six boards and three assists while lone senior Kira Lowery added 13 points in the win.
 
HU has a quick turnaround, traveling to Orangeburg, S.C., to battle the South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.