DURHAM, N.C. (January 6, 2024) – Fifth-year guard Iyanna Warren (Accokeek, Md.) poured in a season-high 26 points but a 10-7 Eagles run in the overtime period proved to be too much as the Howard University women's basketball team fell, 79-76, to North Carolina Central (NCCU) in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener at McDougald Gymnasium.
 
Warren, who leads the team in scoring, and redshirt freshman guard Tyana Walker (Leawood, Kan.) combined for 36 of the team's points.
 
Warren converted on 14-of-16 free throws while dishing out five assists. Overall, Howard shot a season-high 82-percent (28-of-34) on the afternoon. The two teams combined to shoot 76 free throw attempts.
 
For Walker, who had been in a slump, she ended with 10 points off the bench. The Bison bench had its best production of the season, outscoring the Eagles, 34-17.
 
The Bison (3-12, 0-1 MEAC) came out strong and took a 40-28 lead at the half, but the Eagles (6-9, 1-0 MEAC) closed the gap to six, 56-50, at the end of three. Then came the fourth quarter where Howard has had problems all season.
 
NCCU scored 12 unanswered late in the fourth quarter, giving them a 69-66 lead with seconds remaining. The Bison were able to tie the score and send it into an extra stanza, 69-69.
 
Sophomore forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) was in foul trouble and played only six minutes. She finished with only two points but recorded four blocks in the loss. Collectively, the Bison had a season-high nine rejections.
 
NCCU was led by Kyla Bryant with a team-high 23 points while Morgan Callahan notched a double-double (20 points & 14 rebounds). Kimeira Burks added 10 points and seven assists in the victory.
 
NEXT UP: Howard continues its road trip in Orangeburg, S.C., when it takes on the Bulldogs of South Carolina State Monday (Jan. 8) at 5:30 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.