WASHINGTON (November 3, 2024) - There is a belief that we often experience blessings in disguise. Such may be the case with the Howard University women's basketball program.
 
Entering the 2023-24 season with a strong returning class, including the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Player of the Year guard Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.). But before expectations could be achieved, the Bison suffered a major blow when Howell suffered a torn ACL before the season even started.
 
One of the top shooters in women's college basketball, Howell's loss was of major concern as she not only accounted for a large percentage of the team's offensive output. Her presence made the players around her better.
 
The results of her absence were evident as the team searched for someone or something to fill the large void. It resulted in losing 10 of the first 11 contests. Yet, instead of using Howell's absence as an excuse, the team found ways to reinvent itself.
 
Howard head coach Ty Grace and her staff regrouped and proceeded to turn the season around, using a combination of stingy defense and production from unexpected quarter, winning nine of the last 11 games en route to a trip to the tournament final against rival Norfolk State where they dropped a five-point decision.
 
"I had to start figuring out what was next," recall Grace, in her 10^th year. "It took some time for them to believe in themselves and feel that we were going to be alright."
 
Much of the turnaround can be attributed to the team defense. The Bison (15-16, 10-4 MEAC) finished the season holding opponents to 57 points per game, 34-percent shooting from three-point range and forcing 19 turnovers per game.
 
On the offensive side, Howard got the production it needed from Tyana Walker (Leawood, Kan.), Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) and Iyanna Warren.
 
"We were not sure who we were and where the offense was going to come from," noted Grace, who recently won her 150^th game at Howard. "But Tyana stepped up and we had no idea that she would turn into that kind of player."
 
Walker led the team in scoring and supplied just enough scoring to go along the stingy defense. The sharpshooting redshirt sophomore started strong early, struggled through a midseason slump as often happens with most first-year players. Then, she regrouped in the right time, reaching double figures in eight straight games at one point. On the season, she averaged 11.3 points, good for second on the team, shooting 32-percent from beyond the arc and 80-percent from the charity stripe. Walker was named the MEAC Rookie of the Year and preseason All-MEAC First Team.
 
She will not have to carry the load as Howell returns for her last season, making the Bison perhaps one of the best three-point shooting teams in the conference.
 
"I have never had two players capable of scoring the way they do," Grace admits. "It is certainly exciting. I cannot wait to see how teams match up with us and see what it looks like."
 
Creek is the veteran of the unit, having been around the program for four years. Mostly a contributor off the bench, Creek's role increased as she became a starter and had her best season in a Bison uniform. The 5-foot-10 graduate forward had most consistent season when Howard needed it most.
 
"Kaiya has been around the program and knows our defenses and offense and how we function as a program," explains Grace. "Her leadership is one of the keys to the turnaround, but more importantly, she is going to play an important role in the team's fortunes this season."
 
Last season, she averaged almost eight points, shot career-best 34-percent from three while contributing 3.3 rebounds, 26 total steals and 13 total blocks, another career high. Before the season, Creek was selected to the preseason All-MEAC Team.
 
"I am really excited about this team," said Creek. "This group is as talented and deep as any since I have been here. Last years' experience is key and the players have a different attitude after getting a chance to contribute last season. You can see it in practice. It is much more competitive. This is my last go around and I am excited about our chances."
 
Senior Vanessa Blake (Summerville, S.C.) was a steady force during the season after being thrust into fulltime duty following the loss of starting forward Jenesis Perrin (Norwich, Conn.). The 6-foot forward posted positive numbers in scoring (6.2 ppg) and rebounding (4.7 rpg) while shooting 50-percent from the field.
 
The Bison should benefit in the frontcourt with the return of Perrin, who sat out most of the season with an ACL injury. At 6-foot-5, she gives Howard a defensive presence and rim protector that it lacked last season. She appeared in 13 games and started four before suffering the season-ending injury. She was beginning to come on after tallying five points and four rebounds against Tulane.
 
Junior forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) emerged as an important defensive force that contributed mightily to the season turnaround. The stopper averaged almost seven points and seven rebounds per contest, but her value to the team was on the defensive end.
 
Playing at the top of the Bison vaunted full court press, Miller utilized her length and defensive skills to force opponents into turnovers and empty possessions. The 6-foot-1 junior made the MEAC All-Defensive team while recording 65 total steals and 30 total blocks, both team highs. Miller is a strong candidate for MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and all-conference honors if she can avoid the foul trouble that plagued her last year.
 
Senior Marissa Steel (Laurel, Md.), who played in 30 games, came around during the second half of the season, posting her best numbers in scoring (3.0 ppg) and rebounding (4.0 rpg). The 6-foot-2 forward, who came in as a walk-on and ultimately earned a scholarship, scored a career-high 14 points in the win over Delaware State and was a key factor in the tournament coming off the bench.
 
Sophomore forward Sa'lah Hemingway (San Bernadino, Calif.) also provided some solid and important play as a reserve, having appeared in all 31 games She also contributed down the stretch and showed more confidence as it was displayed in the tournament, tallying 15 points and six rebounds in tournament play.
 
Sophomore guard Janyah Bohanon (Cleveland) is an intriguing prospect. The talented 6-foot-1 guard has length and proved to be a matchup problem because of her athleticism and her ability to get into the paint area. She recorded a career-high 14 points against North Carolina Central and grabbed a career-best six rebounds against DePaul. Grace feels that she has the potential to be an outstanding player.
 
Rounding out the returning cast includes senior guard Nyla Cooper (Fayetteville, N.C.), who served as a valuable reserve as she played in 30 games.
 
Coach Grace is also excited on the prospects of two new incoming players in Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) and Saniyah King (Washington).
 
Thomas is a 6-foot-2 transfer forward from Kentucky who can play in and out, giving the team even more flexibility.
 
"She gives us range as she can hit the three or the mid-range and she can put it on the floor," notes Grace.
 
The Bison suffer a major loss in the floor general standout and Kaniyah Harris, who split time running the point with Warren. The duo has played an integral role in the program's success over the past four years. But Grace is confident that King could be the answer to take over the helm at that important position.
 
"She understands the game," declares Grace without hesitation. "She is very skilled and does not have any fear. She's going to be really good."
 
King is a guard from Bishop Ireton in Alexandria, Va. She helped lead her team to its best record in school history while playing in arguably the toughest high school league in the country, the WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference). She had to go up against a number of McDonald's All-Americans during her career; yet, finished second on her team in assists and averaged almost 10 points per game.
 
Grace points that the stability of the coaching staff was instrumental in last year's turnaround and a key cornerstone.
 
"I have been very fortunate to have the core of the coaching staff with me. You often see turnovers each year. Coach Brian (Associate coach Brian Davis), Donnie (assistant coach Donnie Stith), Jay (assistant coach Dr. Jeanne-Marie Wilson) and Redd (Margaree King Richard) work together and all have important roles that they play. I am very fortunate in that regard."
 
SCHEDULE
 
Howard opens the season at former MEAC rival Florida A&M Monday (Nov. 4) in Tallahassee, Fla., before returning home for back-to-back contests against George Washington (Nov. 8) and VCU (Nov. 10).
 
An interesting matchup is when Howard hosts local Georgetown (GU) in Burr Gymnasium (Dec. 1). The Hoyas are coming off an outstanding season and defeated the Bison by a point last year at Georgetown.
 
The non-conference schedule includes an intriguing matchup against East Carolina (ECU) in Greenville, N.C. (Nov. 20). It will be a reunion with ECU assistant coach and former Howard standout and assistant coach under Grace, Tamoria "Tee" Holmes and Jeff Williams, also a former Howard player and an assistant coach with the Bison.
 
"We made some adjustments to the schedule this year," explains Grace. "After a rough start last season against some quality competition, we decided to find some balance in the schedule against teams where we can see ourselves competing before we get into conference play."
 
On Jan. 4, Howard starts MEAC play when it hosts Delaware State.
 
ACADEMICS
 
When it comes to recruiting some of the outstanding players, Grace says that the University academic reputation plays a great role.
 
"Howard University is ranked in the Top 100 academic schools in the country," Grace explained. "That is significant and the bottom line is that parents want their children to get a quality education. We have alums from the program who have done well in many professions after they leave the University."
 
As for the season, Grace says the team's success and prospects for another title run and trip to the Big Dance hinges on one factor.
 
"We have the talent," Grace continued. "We just have to stay healthy."
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.