PROVIDENCE, R.I. (November 4, 2025) - Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) scored a team-high 15 points and April Edwards (Little Rock, Ark.) added 11 points to lift the Howard University women's basketball team to a 68-56 win over Providence College (0-1) in a nonconference clash at Alumni Hall.
 
A senior forward from Kentucky, Thomas got her team started by scoring the first five points. A preseason All-MEAC First Team selection, Thomas added five rebounds to her stat sheet as the Bison led, 14-13, at the end of the first quarter.
 
Then Edwards, freshman guard Ariella Henigan (Chicago) and junior forward Sa'lah Hemingway (San Bernardino, Calif.) all got in the act, adding key plays to get some breathing room at intermission, 34-26.
 
Howard (1-0), the MEAC Preseason favorite, has a revamped lineup after losing three of its starters from last season.
 
Henigan made her debut with nine points, three assists and three steals after a slow start. Her three-pointer near the half pushed her team forward, heading into the final stanza.
 
Hemingway, one of the four holdovers from last year, impacted the win with six points and four rebounds in just 16 minutes.
 
With just enough offense, the Bison defense closed it out with a 10-0 run over three minutes to open up the biggest lead of the game, 58-44.
 
For the game, Howard turned the Friars over 20 times and got 26 points off their miscues. They also limited Providence to 2-of-19 from beyond the arc.
 
Thomas connected on 7-of-14 from the floor, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots.
 
Edwards (11 points), Hemingway (six points) and Zoe Stewart (eight points) accounted for 25 points off the bench.
 
Providence was paced in scoring by Sabou Gueye, who led all scorers with 16 points, and Payton Dunbar with 12 points in a losing effort.
 
NEXT UP: Howard hosts Florida A&M in its home opener Saturday (Nov. 8) at 2 p.m., inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.