WASHINGTON - The Howard University women's basketball team closes out the MEAC regular season when it hosts Norfolk State on Thursday, March 2. It will be Senior Night and the game will tipoff at 6 pm and will be streamed live on www.hubison.com.

The Lady Bison (13-13, 9-4 MEAC) are hoping that the team can build on Monday's 60-55 road victory at South Carolina State. In that game, Howard got a team-high 15 points from graduate guard Aziah Hudson and 14 from junior All-MEAC guard Destiny Howell. The Lady Bison got some much-needed help from sophomore guard Nyla Cooper (11 points) and junior guard Kaiya Creek (eight points, eight rebounds). In what was a team effort, senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis (four points, five rebounds, two blocked shots, two steals) and junior guard Kaniyah Harris (six rebounds, four assists) added important contributions, something that Head Coach Ty Grace will need if the Lady Bison are to repeat from a year ago.

Norfolk State (23-5, 11-2 MEAC) captured the MEAC regular season title with their sixth straight win of the season, a 79-67 road victory over North Carolina Central this past Saturday.

The defensive-minded Spartans are led by the quartet of graduate guards Camille Downs (11.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, team-high 95 steals) and Deja Francis (11.5 ppg, team-high 97 assists, 51 steals) and sophomore forwards Kierra Wheeler (10.4 ppg, team-high 8.5 rebounds per game, 54-percent from the field) and Makaye Diawara (6.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg).

When sharing her thoughts on the importance of the game head Coach Ty Grace admitted, "The season has definitely been challenging for different reasons and circumstances, however, we've continued to coach this team and they have responded in times of adversity even when it didn't result in a win. I think this game is important firstly because we want to carry momentum into the conference tournament, secondly we did not put forth our best effort the first time versus Norfolk, and lastly we would like to see our seniors play their last game in Burr on a high note, In front of our great fans and their families." 

Burr Gymnasium Finale:  As stated, it will be the last time that Iyanna Warren, Brooklynn Fort-Davis and Aziah Hudson will display their talents in Burr Gymnasium. The trio will be honored in the pre-game acknowledgements of their contributions to the Howard University women's basketball program.

"Every Senior night is emotional. You watch these young ladies become young women right in front of you. In four years you see them evolve into better basketball players, friends, and leaders. I love them all and I'm thankful for their commitment to the program and that they were able to see success on and off the court. They have worn the Howard jersey well. I am very proud and wish them the very best," beamed Grace. 

MEAC STATS
HOWARD UNIVERSITY leads the conference in assists/turnover ratio, is second in field-goal percentage defense (37-percent), in 3-point shooting (30-percent), in 3-pointers made per game (6.0) and third in free-throw shooting (68-percent). Individually, Howell leads the conference in scoring (16.2), is secnd in 3-point shooting (35-percent), third in 3-pointers made per game (2.4) and sixth in field-goal percentage (41-percent);  Hudson, who is having an all-conference season, ranks sixth in free-throw shooting (74-percent), and eighth in 3-point shooting percentage; Fort-Davis is ninth in rebounding (5.8); Nile Miller is seventh in rebounding; Cooper is third in 3-point shooting (35-percent); and Harris is tied for first in assists while leading the conference in assists/turnover ratio.

NORFOLK STATE leads the conference in steals (12.5), blocked shots (3.9), scoring defense (allowing 49.8 ppg), field-goal shooting defense (30-percent), in 3-point shooting defense (24-percent), in rebounding and rebounding margin, and ranks second in turnover margin, field-goal shooting (40-percent) and in scoring (62 ppg). Individually, Downs leads the conference in steals, is third in free-throw shooting (78-percent) and fourth in 3-points shooting (33-percent) and eighth in scoring; Francis is tied for first in assists with Kaniyah Harris of Howard, ranks fifth in free-throw shooting (75-percent) and 10th in scoring; Wheeler leads the MEAC in rebounding (8.5) and is second in blocks and in field-goal percentage (54-percent); Niya Fields is second in steals; Diawara is eighth in rebounding; and Mahoganie Williams is first in blocked shots.

SERIES RECORD:  The two teams have split the last six. The Spartans prevailed 67-34 at Norfolk State on January 14 but Howard defeated the Spartans 61-44 in the MEAC championship game last year. The Spartans lead the series, 16-10, in meetings since 2006.

NEXT UP:  Howard begins MEAC Tournament play (March 8-11) with date, seeding, and opponents to be determined. 

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


Contributors Chevonne Mansfield and Jalisa Fulwood