NORFOLK, Va. (March 8, 2023) - No. 3 Howard University women's basketball team will take on No. 6 Delaware State (DSU) in its opening round Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament matchup Thursday, March 9, at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. The game is set to start at 2 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
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.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
Thursday's game will be a rematch from last year's MEAC Tournament first round. The Lady Bison came out victorious from that game, winning 87-51, and en route to earning a NCAA Tournament bid.
 
The game will also be the third meeting this season between the Lady Bison and the Hornets, with Howard winning both games during the regular season.
 
In their first game (Jan. 7), HU won, 51-49, despite playing without three of their starters. Senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis (Chicago) led the way with 19 points, with graduate guard Aziah Hudson (Massapequa, N.Y.) adding in 15 points.
 
Their second meeting came on Feb. 11, where Howard won convincingly, 57-42. This time, Hudson scored a team-high 17 points and junior guard Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.) tallied a career-high six assists in the effort.
 
HOWARD
 
Howard (14-13, 10-4 MEAC) enters the tournament having won eight of their last 10 games in the MEAC, which was the best record in the conference for that stretch. They will be eyeing a return to glory as repeat champions after last year's historic championship season.
 
There were also some Howard players recognized at the inaugural MEAC BBT Awards. Howell walked away with All-Conference First Team honors, along with the MEAC Player of the Year award. The New York native averaged a conference-leading 16.5 PPG (16.9 PPG in conference play).
 
Hudson was named to the All-Conference Second Team after ranking among the league leader in points per game, three-point percentage and free-throw percentage.
 
Fort-Davis snagged All-Conference Third Team honors while being ninth in the conference in rebounds (6.1 per game).
 
Freshman forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) was named to the conference All-Rookie Team. The defensive specialist was tied for seventh in the conference in total blocks (17).
 
DELAWARE STATE
 
DSU (7-18, 5-9 MEAC) comes into this game having won three of their last four and will be looking to carry that momentum into the tournament.
 
Freshman guard/forward Savannah Brooks (Taneytown, Md.) was selected to the All-Rookie Team during the awards ceremony. Brooks led her team in scoring, steals and blocks with 10.8 PPG, 1.3 SPG, and 10 total blocks on the season. She also was top 10 in three-point percentage.
 
MEAC NOTES
 
Howard ended the season leading the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (.73) and placed second in the conference in opponent field goal percentage (36.7%), three-point percentage (29.6%) and three-pointers made per game (5.9.)
 
Junior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, Md.) led the MEAC in assists (2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio), which was good enough for 30^th-best in the nation.
 
Sophomore guard Nyla Cooper (Fayetteville, N.C.) ranked third in the conference in three-point percentage at 35-percent.
 
Delaware State ranked third in the MEAC in defense and three-point percentage (29.4%.)
 
Senior forward Jessica Martino (Manhattan, N.Y.) was sixth in the conference in rebounds (6.6 per game).
 
Senior guard Alexis Moragne (Bronx, N.Y.) finished seventh in the MEAC in three-point percentage with 28-percent from three.
 
SERIES RECORD
 
Howard has won 13 straight games against Delaware State since 2017, with an all-time series record of 18-5, dating back to 2006.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
If the Lady Bison win Thursday (March 9), they will face No. 7 Maryland Eastern Shore, who upset No. 2 Morgan State, 49-46, in the semifinals Friday, March 10, at 2 p.m.
 
For more information, visit meacsports.com or the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.