WASHINGTON (January 20, 2024) – Redshirt freshman Tyana Walker (Leawood, Kan.) poured in a career-high 24 points and the Howard University women's basketball team turned in its best all-around performance in a convincing 73-60 win over Norfolk State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup at Burr Gymnasium.
 
The Bison (5-12, 2-1 MEAC) set the tone early against the defending champions, hitting on a sizzling 67-percent (8-of-12) to take a 26-22 lead. Walker, who started the season strong but has slumped of late, scored six points on 2-of-4 from three-point range.
 
Howard continued to torch the basket, connecting on 6-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-5 from the beyond the arc to take 41-25 lead at the half. Walker was responsible for 11 of the team's 19 points while senior forward Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) added eight points on 3-of-4 from the floor.
 
The Spartans (12-5, 2-1 MEAC) were able to reduce the deficit to 13 points, 52-39, at the end of three on the efforts of junior forward Kierra Wheeler and senior guard Diamond Johnson, who combined for 37 of their teams' points.
 
But Howard was not to be denied, bolting out to a 66-48 advantage before Norfolk State made a too-late scoring surge.
 
It must be noted that the Bison played without the service of fifth-year guard and team-leading scorer Iyanna Warren (11.7 ppg), who sat out with an injury.
 
It was truly a team effort for the Bison, who scored a season-high 73 points. Howard came into the game shooting 34-percent from the floor, but on this day, they shot a season-high 65-percent (26-of-40) and 55-percent from three (10-of-18).
 
Sophomore forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) made yet another statement in her bid for MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, tallying eight points, 11 rebounds, who steals and a force on defense around the basket.
 
Creek chipped in with a season-high 15 points, junior forward Marissa Steel (Laurel, Md.) added seven points off the bench and senior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, Md.) dealt out a season-high nine assists.
 
Norfolk State, which came in riding a five-game win streak, were led Wheeler with 21 points before fouling out and Johnson with 16 points.
 
NEXT UP: Howard travels to Baltimore to take on the Lady Bears of Morgan State Saturday (Jan. 27) at 2 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.