WASHINGTON (March 6, 2024) – Howard University women's basketball team squares off against rival Norfolk State (NSU) in its regular season finale Thursday (March 7). Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m., live on ESPNU.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow all the action via live stats and/or ESPNU.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Monday (March 4), redshirt freshman guard Tyana Walker (Leawood, Kan.) came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points and fifth-year guard Iyanna Warren (Accokeek, Md.) and junior forward Marissa Steel (Laurel, Md.) combined for 12 points in the second half to help the Bison run past Delaware State, 61-43, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) clash at Burr Gymnasium.
 
Steel just missed a double-double with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Warren finished with 12 points and sophomore forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) with eight rebounds, three blocks and four steals.
 
LAST MATCHUP
 
On Jan. 20, Walker poured in a career-high 24 points and the Bison turned in its best all-around performance in a convincing 73-60 win over Norfolk State at Burr Gymnasium.
 
Senior forward Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) chipped in with a season-high 15 points while Miller tallied 11 board and eight points.
 
Steel added seven points off the bench and senior guard Kaniyah Harris (Capital Heights, Md.) dealt out a season-high nine assists.
 
Norfolk State was led Kierra Wheeler with 21 points before fouling out and Diamond Johnson with 16 points.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
SERIES RECORD
 
On Jan. 20, Howard defeated Norfolk State, 73-60, D.C., for the Spartans only loss in the MEAC this season.
 
The two rivals have split MEAC Tournament titles the past two seasons. The Spartans hold a 17-12 advantage since 2006.
 
HOWARD
 
Howard (13-14, MEAC) comes into the game as one of the hottest teams in the MEAC, having won five in a row after defeating Delaware State, 61-43, at home Monday (March 4).
 
The Bison are led by Warren (12.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, team-high 81 total assists & 78-percent from the free throw line), Walker (12.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, team-high 51 three pointers made & 83-percent from the free throw line), Miller (6.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg, team-high 26 total blocks & 59 total steals), junior forward Vanessa Blake (6.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg & 52-percent from the floor), Creek (7.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 35-percent from three-point, 31 three pointers made & 11 total blocks) and Harris (64 total assists & 35 steals).
 
NORFOLK STATE
 
Norfolk State (23-5, 12-1 MEAC), come into the game riding an 11-game win streak, following a 52-40 win over Maryland Eastern Shore at home Monday (March 4).
 
NSU is led by Johnson (20.9 ppg, 45-percent shooting, 87-percent from the free throw line & 54-percent from three), Wheeler (17.6 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 33 total blocks & 51-percent shooting from the floor), freshman guards Anjanae Richardson (7.3 ppg) and Da'Brya Clark (6.9 ppg & 3.1 rpg) and junior guard Niya Fields (6.7 ppg, team-leading 116 total assists & 73 total steals).
 
MEAC STATS
 
HOWARD
 
The Bison lead the MEAC in field goal percentage defense (35-percent) while second in team defense (58.4 ppg), three-point shooting (30-percent), three-point shooting defense (28-percent), free throw shooting (67-percent) and turnover margin.
 
Individually, Warren ranks second in the conference in free throw shooting (78-percent), third in assists and assists/turnover ratio and fifth in scoring.
 
Warren, leading candidate for MEAC Rookie of the Year, is second in three-pointers made, fourth in scoring, sixth in three-point shooting (33-percent) and 11^th in field goal shooting.
 
Miller, a strong candidate for MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, ranks third in steals and fifth in blocks and rebounding.
 
Creek is fifth in three-point shooting (35-percent) and eighth in three pointers made.
 
Harris is sixth in assists.
 
NORFOLK STATE
 
The Spartans lead the conference in defense (53.0 ppg), offense (67.9 ppg), team field goal (41-percent), three-point shooting (33-percent), three pointers made per game (5.8), free throw shooting (74-percent), steals (12.57), turnover margin and assists/turnover margin.
 
Individually, Wheeler leads the MEAC in scoring (17.6 ppg) and shooting (51-percent) while second in rebounding (10.3 rpg) and blocked shots and fifth in free throw shooting (73-percent).
 
Fields is second in three-point shooting (38-percent).
 
Richarson is eighth in three-point shooting (33-percent) and Clark leads the MEAC in free throw shooting (79-percent).
 
OTHER NOTES

• Norfolk State has had both a nine-game and 11-game win streak this season.
• Diamond Johnson, the North Carolina State transfer, is not listed in the statistical leaders in the conference because she has not played the required minimum of games.
• In two of the three games against Howard, Wheeler has been in foul trouble. The junior is the leading candidate for MEAC Player of the Year.
• Howard's recent success can be attributed to the play of Creek, Steel, Warren & Walker. Creek has scored 36 points in the past five games, connecting on 40-percent of her three-point attempts. Steel, who played sparingly during the season due to injuries, has sparked the Howard surge with 41 points and 39 rebounds in the past six games. Warren is averaging almost 16 points in the past six games and has handed out 18 assists. Walker has been coming off the bench and it has proved to be effective, reaching double figures in 12 of 13 games.

 
NEXT UP
 
Howard will be the No. 2 seed no matter the outcome. Norfolk State has already clinched the MEAC regular season title and top spot, so the Bison will wait until Friday to find out when they open in tournament play, which begins March 14 in Norfolk, Va.
 
For more information visit the official Howard Athletics website at www.hubison.com.