WASHINGTON (February 16, 2024) – Howard University women's basketball team returns from its 12-day hiatus Saturday (Feb. 17) when they host North Carolina Central (NCCU) in a key Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m., inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow all the action via live stats and/or live video.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
On Feb. 5, sophomore forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) scored a team-high 19 points and just missed a double-double while senior forward Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) added 15 points to lead the Bison to a 69-57 road win at Delaware State in a MEAC contest at Memorial Hall.
 
Redshirt freshman guard Tyana Walker (Leawood, Kan.), who is coming off a team-high 18 points in Saturday's (Feb. 3) win over Maryland Eastern Shore, finished with 10 points.
 
Fifth-year guard Iyanna Warren (Accokeek, Md.), the team leader in scoring, turned playmaker for the second straight game as she dealt out five assists. Fellow backcourt mate senior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, Md.) equaled Warren's assist total (5) in the victory.
 
LAST MATCHUP
 
On Jan. 6, Warren poured in a season-high 26 points but a 10-7 Eagles run in the overtime period proved to be too much as the Bison fell, 79-76, to NCCU in the MEAC opener at McDougald Gymnasium.
 
Warren and Walker combined for 36 of the team's points.
 
Miller was in foul trouble and played only six minutes. She finished with only two points but recorded four blocks in the loss.
 
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.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
This is a pivotal matchup as we begin the second half of conference play. Both teams sit at 5-2 in the conference, along with Coppin State. Norfolk State stands at 6-1 with its only blemish, courtesy of Howard.
 
SERIES RECORD
 
On Jan. 6, the two last played in Durham and the Eagles came away with a 79-76 overtime victory to extend their win streak over the Bison; however, Howard leads the series, 14-4, since 2006 with all NCCU wins coming in Durham. During that period, the Eagles have failed to win in Burr.
 
HOWARD
 
Howard (8-13, 5-2 MEAC) has won two-in-a-row following a 69-57 road win over Delaware State (Feb. 5).
 
The Bison, who have won five-of-the-last-six, are led by Warren (11.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, team-high 59 total assists, 28 total steals & 80-percent from the free throw line), Walker (11.4 ppg & team-high 37 made three pointers), Miller (7.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 19 blocks [team-high] and 47 total steals [team-high]), junior forward Vanessa Blake (6.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg & 52 percent from the floor) and Creek (7.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 24 made three pointers & 10 total blocks) and Harris (2.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg & 55 total assists).
 
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
 
The improved Eagles (11-11, 5-2 MEAC) have won three-in-a-row, the latest a 66-65 victory over Morgan State (Feb. 5).
 
They are led by Burks (11.8 ppg & 3.7 rpg), Bryant (13.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg & 44 total steals), Callahan (13.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg & 15 total blocks), freshman forward Jada Tippett (8.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg & 19 total blocks) and red-shirt senior guard Tippy Robertson (6.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg & team-leading 82 total assists).
 
MEAC STATS
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison lead the MEAC in field goal percentage defense (35-percent) and second in scoring defense (59.0 ppg).
 
Individually, Warren is having an All-MEAC season, ranking third in assists and assists/turnover ratio, first in free throw shooting (80-percent) and 10^th in scoring.
 
Walker, who is in the running for MEAC Rookie of the Year, is second in three pointers made per game (2.0), seventh in three-point shooting (33 percent) and ninth in scoring.
 
Miller, who is making a strong bid for MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, is seventh in rebounding, third in steals and fifth in blocked shots.
 
Creek is fifth in three-point shooting (36 percent) and Harris is fifth in assists.
 
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
 
The Eagles are first in scoring (67.5 ppg), blocked shots (4.1 per game) and assists (13.27).
 
Individually, Bryant is third in scoring, fourth in steals, seventh in three-pointers made per game, eighth in field goal shooting and ninth in three-point shooting percentage.
 
Burks leads the conference in three-point shooting and sixth in both steals and scoring.
 
Callahan is third in rebounds, fourth in scoring and sixth in blocked shots.
 
Tiggett leads the MEAC in blocks and fourth in field goal shooting percentage.
 
Robertson ranks second in both assists and assist/turnover ratio.
 
NEXT UP
 
Howard continues MEAC play Monday (Feb. 19) when it hosts South Carolina State at 5:30 p.m., in Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.