NORFOLK, Va. (March 9, 2023) – No 3. Howard University women's basketball team glided to victory against No. 6 Delaware State (DSU) in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Quarterfinal round, 67-35, in the Norfolk Scope Arena.
 
This win marked the Lady Bison's 14^th straight win against the Lady Hornets and the second year in a row eliminating DSU in the tourney opening round.
 
"I'm just really proud of the team," said Howard women's basketball head coach Ty Grace after the win. "We came down here for a purpose and we really took care of business. I'm just really proud of the team's effort and focus today."
 
Graduate guard Aziah Hudson (Massapequa, N.Y.) led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting. MEAC Player of the Year Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.) finished the afternoon with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and a pair of blocks in the victory.
 
"My teammates were finding me open," said Howell postgame. "Not even just in the halfcourt, but in transition. My teammates kept finding me and I was knocking down shots."
 
The game started off with out-of-control play from both sides, but after the first couple of minutes, Howell finally made the first points off a dime from Hudson to put HU on the board.
 
For there, HU never looked back with Howell scoring 11 of her 18 points before the three-minute mark in the first quarter. Howard ended the first quarter ahead, 22-10, shooting 60-percent (9-of-15) from the field and 43-percent (3-of-7) from three.
 
The Lady Bison continued to add to their lead in the second quarter, with stifling defense and forcing the Lady Hornets into turnovers, including multiple shot clock violations. HU took advantage of those mistakes all day, scoring 18 points off turnovers.
 
The Lady Bison walked into halftime leading, 32-17, while holding DSU to only 27-percent shooting (7-of-26).
 
The second half saw continued dominance from Howard with Howell opening the period with a smooth transition layup.
 
Junior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capitol Heights, Md.) found entry passes to graduate forward Krislyn Marsh (Houston) and All-MEAC Third Team selection senior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis (Chicago) for easy layups in the second half.
 
Harris had a noted defensive impact throughout the game, stuffing four shots at the rim and grabbing a steal by the end of the third quarter.
 
Harris had a historic night, tallying 12 assists, 12 rebounds, four blocks and four steals in the win. According to Stats Perform, the DMV native is the only other player to achieve this stat line since the year 2000 in either the NBA, WNBA or Division I basketball for men or women. LeBron James did so in 2010.
 
After coasting for most of the half, Hudson made the old-fashion three-point play to put the Lady Bison ahead by 33 points. Shortly after, Howard subbed out their entire starting five.
 
The rest of the game was a coast-to-the-finish for HU, who finished the game with 22 assists and had a 43-33 rebounding advantage.
 
Fort-Davis produced her third consecutive double-double with 11 points and 11 boards in the victory.
 
For DSU (7-19, 5-9 MEAC), Jessica Martino led the way with a double-double (14 points and 11 rebounds).
 
Howard faces No. 7 Maryland Eastern Shore Friday, March 10, in the MEAC Semifinal round, another rematch from last season's tournament.
 
For more information, visit meacsports.com or the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.