SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (December 6, 2024) – Junior forward Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) poured in a career-high 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, but it was not enough as the Howard University women's basketball team dropped an 87-63 loss at Seton Hall in East Orange, N.J.
 
The loss was the second straight for the Bison.
 
Howard (5-4) was within striking distance through most of the first half until the Pirates (6-2) reeled off a 17-2 run over the last five minutes of the second quarter to open a 49-24 lead at the half. The Bison aided and abetted Seton Hall's cause by going long periods without scoring and giving up 25 points off 13 Bison turnovers.
 
Graduate guard Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.), the 2022-23 MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Player of the Year and team leading scorer coming into the game, led the way with 10 points at the half while Thomas contributed six points and seven rebounds. Howell finished with 12 points, five points below her season average.
 
Although the Pirates were able to cruise to the win in the second half, they had no answer for Thomas, who tallied 19 points after intermission. The 6-foot-2 junior transfer from Kentucky flirted with a double-double in the loss to Georgetown (Dec. 1).
 
Freshman guard Saniyah King (Washington), a three-time MEAC Rookie of the Week honoree, had another solid game in the loss, finishing with 12 points, a game-high five assists and three steals.
 
The trio of Howell, Thomas and King made good on 17-of-31 shooting from the field, but the rest of the team combined for only 6-of-17. Thomas was 6-of-8 from the floor in the second half.
 
Team second-leading scorer (10 points per game) graduate forward Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) went scoreless in 25 minutes.
 
Seton Hall was led by Savannah Catalon with 17 points and former Maryland standout Faith Masonius and Jada Eads ended with 16 points and 14 points, respectively. Six Pirates players reached double figures.
 
NEXT UP:  Howard has a quick turnaround when it travels to Hempstead, N.Y., to take on Hofstra Sunday (Dec. 8) at 2 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.