Box Score NORFOLK, Va. (March 10, 2023) – No. 3 Howard University women's basketball team faces rival No. 1 Norfolk State (NSU) for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Championship game Saturday (March 11) at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
 
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and will start approximately one hour after the completionof the men's game.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow all the action via ESPN+ and/or live stats. Fans can also live listen to the action via WHBC96.3DH3.
 
The game will be re-aired on ESPNU Sunday, March 12, at 8:30 a.m. (ET)
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Howard (16-13, 10-4 MEAC) survived No. 7 Maryland Eastern Shore Friday, March 10, in the semifinal round of the MEAC Tournament. Their 62-60 win came after the Lady Bison fought their way back from being down by 11 points in the third quarter.
 
Hudson led the way in scoring with 15 points while chipping in on the defensive end with two steals.
 
Fort-Davis came up big when the team needed her, punching their ticket to the championship game with a game-winning basket and only one second remaining. She tallied nine points and four rebounds.
 
Junior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, Md.) stepped up big in the win, scoring 10 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out six assists. Harris also made a massive three-pointer to put Howard up by one point with 16 seconds left in the game.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
This matchup against Norfolk State completes an exact recreation of Howard's 2022 MEAC title-winning bracket.
 
HU split the season series against NSU.
 
Howard lost their first meeting 64-37 (Jan. 14), in Norfolk, Va. That game saw the Lady Bison struggle mightily on offense, shooting only 28-percent from the field and 19-percent from three.
 
In the home leg against Norfolk State, HU rose to the occasion and won, 60-55 (March 2). That game would also serve as Howard's Senior Night and final regular season game before the conference tournament. MEAC Player of the Year Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.) lead the charge with 23 points. At the same time, senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis (Chicago) and graduate guard Aziah Hudson (Massapequa, N.Y.) chipped in 10 and eight points, respectively, on their Senior Night.
 
HOWARD
 
HU leads the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio and was second in opponent field goal percentage (36.7%), and three-point shooting.
 
Sophomore guard Nyla Cooper (Fayetteville, N.C.) was a sniper from three this year, hitting 34.6% of her threes.
 
Harris was the top assister in the MEAC and ended top-30 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
NORFOLK STATE
 
Norfolk State (25-6, 11-3 MEAC) beat the North Carolina Central Eagles, 81-59, Friday, March 10, on their road to the Championship game.
 
Kierra Wheeler was the enforcer for the Spartans, leading the team in scoring and rebounds with a double-double (22 points, 12 rebounds.)
 
Camille Downs had herself an all-around game, ending with 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals.
 
Sophomore guard Niya Fields also contributed to the blowout, with 11 points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals.
 
Norfolk State was one of the best teams in the MEAC all year, leading the league in defense on multiple fronts (opponent PPG, opponent FG%, opponent 3PT%, blocks and steals) and in rebounding. They also finished top 3 in scoring (61.9 PPG,) field goal percentage (39%,) turnover margin and assists.
 
NSU also had multiple players selected to All-Conference teams.
 
Graduate guard Camille Downs (Fredericksburg, Va.) won the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year award along with being named to the All-Conference First Team. Downs led the conference in steals (100) and was top-10 in scoring (12 PPG,) free-throw percentage and three-point percentage.
 
Graduate guard Deja Francis (Queens, N.Y.) was also named to the All-Conference First Team, finishing top 5 in free-throw percentage (74.8%,) assists (98,) assist-to-turnover ratio and steals. She also finished in the top 10 in scoring, averaging 11.4 PPG.
 
Wheeler was named to both the All-Conference Third Team and the All-Defensive Team. Wheeler averaged the most rebounds per game in the conference (8.4) and led the conference in field goal percentage (54.6%.) In addition, Wheeler had the second most blocks in the conference (27.)
 
Junior forward Mahoganie Williams (Monroe, La.) was selected to the All-Defensive Team after leading the conference in blocks, with 33 total.
 
SERIES RECORD
 
Howard won their last game against Norfolk State but holds a losing record against NSU with a record of 11-16, going back to 2006.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Howard's season isn't quite over if they can claim the MEAC Tournament trophy. Their eyes would focus on the NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday to see which team they would play. Selection Sunday will be aired live on CBS at 6 p.m.
 
For more information, visit meacsports.com or the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.