WASHINGTON (March 12, 2024) – No. 2 Howard University women's basketball team begins its quest for another tournament title Wednesday (March 13), facing rival No. 7 Morgan State (MSU) in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Quarterfinals. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m., inside the Norfolk Scope Arena.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow all the action via live stats and/or ESPN+.
 
LAST MATCHUPS
 
HU swept the season series with Morgan State.
 
On Jan. 27, the Bison trio of fifth-year guard Iyanna Warren (Accokeek, Md.), sophomore forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) and redshirt freshman Tyana Walker (Leawood, Kan.) each reached double figures and scored their team's last five points to lead the Bison to a 54-51 win over MSU at the Hill Field House.
 
In the rematch (Feb. 24), Walker scored a team-high 21 points and Warren and senior forward Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) added 17 points and 14 points, respectively, to lead the Bison to a 71-47 win over Morgan State at Burr Gymnasium.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
SERIES RECORD
 
The Bison swept Morgan State during the season, winning 54-51 at Morgan State (Jan. 27) and 70-47 at home (Feb. 24).
 
Howard has won three in a row against its Beltway rivals. The Bears hold a 13-12 advantage in the series since 2006.
 
HOWARD
 
Howard (13-15) comes in as the No. 2 seed after dropping its regular season finale at Norfolk State Thursday (March 7), 59-53.
 
The Bison are led by Walker (12.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, team-leading 51 three pointers made & 83-percent from the free throw line), Warren (11.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, team-leading 87 total assists, 28 total steals & 79-percent free throw shooter), Miller (6.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg, team-leading 60 total steals & 27 total blocks), junior forward Vanessa Blake (6.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg & 52-percent shooting from the floor), Creek (7.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 12 total blocks, 36-percent from three & 76-percent free throw) and senior guard Kaniyah Harris (67 assist & 35 total steals).
 
MORGAN STATE
 
Morgan State (8-21) enters as the No. 7 seed. The Bears dropped their season finale, 65-45, to Coppin State at home Thursday (March 7).
 
The Bears are led by Laila Fair (8.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg & 19 total blocks), graduate forward Joelle Johnson (8.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg & 19 total blocks), sophomore guard Gabrielle Johnson (6.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg & 38 total steals), freshman guards Tamaria Rumph (6.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg, team-leading 51 total assists) and Amari Smith (5.3 ppg, 33 made three-pointers) and senior guard Sadayjah Payne (6.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg & 67 total assists).
 
MEAC STATS
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison lead the MEAC in field goal percentage defense (35- percent) and second in three-point shooting defense (28-percent) and defensive scoring (58.5 points per game).
 
Individually, Walker is second in three pointers made, fifth in scoring and ninth in three-point shooting (33-percent).
 
Warren leads the MEAC in free throw shooting (78-percent), third in assist/turnover ratio and assists and sixth in scoring.
 
Miller ranks third in steals and fifth in rebounding and fourth in blocked shots.
 
Creek is seventh in three pointers and third in three-point shooting (35-percent).
 
Harris is sixth in assists.
 
MORGAN STATE
 
The Bears lead the MEAC in team offensive rebounds (14.4), second in blocked shots (3.5) and in steals (10.69).
 
Individually, J. Johnson is eighth in blocked shots and 10^th in rebounding.
 
G. Johnson is ninth in steals and Payne is second in steals.
 
BISON NOTES
 
After a dismal start to the season that included a nine-game losing skid, Howard comes into the tournament with some momentum. Despite the close loss to top-seeded at Norfolk State in the regular season finale, the Bison have won seven-of-their-last-nine.
 
During that stretch, Walker has scored in double figures in 13 of the last 14 games off the bench, including a career-high 24 versus the Spartans (Jan. 20).
 
Creek has also been a catalyst. She has nearly doubled her career scoring average this season, especially from beyond the arc where she is 8-of-17 in the past six games.
 
Warren, who has played in three tournament finals, has scored in double figures in five-of-the-last-six games and has recorded 23 assists and only eight turnovers in the last five games. The Maryland native will leave her mark on Howard University women's basketball. For her career, she has played in 102 games, scoring 986 points and dealt out 374 assists and a career 80-percent shooter from the free throw line.
 
MORGAN STATE NOTES
 
The Bears have had problems scoring all season, averaging only 53 points per contest. Much as to do with the shooting woes as they are shooting 23-percent from the field. Defense has always been a staple of Coach Ed Davis-coached teams. The Bears average almost 11 steals and 3.5 blocked shots a game. No Morgan State player is averaging in double figures.
 
NEXT UP
 
The winner advances to the semifinal round Friday (March 15).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.