WASHINGTON (December 6, 2025) – Howard University women's basketball team squares off against Old Dominion (ODU) Sunday (Dec. 7) in Norfolk, Va. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., live on ESPN+.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow all the action via live stats and/or ESPN+.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
ODU
 
The Monarchs defeated Delaware State, 68-45, at home (Dec. 1). ODU was led by reserves Nakiyah Allen (11 points) and Simara Fields (9 points), who combined for 20 points off the bench.
 
HOWARD
 
On Dec. 5, redshirt junior guard Zoe Stewart (Terre Haute, Ind.) scored a career-high 23 points and senior forward Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) contributed 14 points, but it was an all-around team effort that propelled the Bison to a 72-69 win over Fairfield in an entertaining and highly contested game at Burr Gymnasium.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS/KEY RESERVES
 
ODU PROBABLE STARTERS
 
No.      Name                                      Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                        
7          Kelsey Thompson                    Senior             Guard              7.2 ppg & 2.8 rpg
54        Riley Stack                               Junior              Forward           3.3 ppg & 5.1 rpg
3          Simone Cunningham              Senior             Wing                10.4 ppg & 7.4 rpg
25        En'Dya Buford                         Graduate         Guard               8.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg & 28 assists
9          Dalanna Carter                        Junior              Guard              4.3 ppg & 2.1 rpg
 
ODU KEY RESERVES
 
No.      Name                                      Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                        
11        Nakiya Allen                            Junior              Forward          3.4 ppg           
2          Simaru Fields                            Senior              Guard              10.8 ppg & 3.6 rpg
 
HOWARD PROBABLE STARTERS
 
No.      Name                                      Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                        
24        Zennia Thomas                        Senior              Forward           16.0 ppg & 7.5 rpg
25        Nile Miller                               Senior              Forward           6.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg & 30 steals
4          Ariella Henigan                        Freshman        Guard               6.9 ppg & 83-percent FT%
5          Destiny Bynum-Johnson         Junior              Guard               5.6 ppg & 4.1 rpg
23        Zoe Stewart                             R-Junior           Guard               11.9 ppg & 48-percent FG%
 
HU KEY RESERVES
 
No.      Name                                      Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                        
15        April Edwards                          R-Sophomore Guard               4.9 ppg & 83-percent FT%
11        Sa'lah Hemingway                   Junior              Forward           3.0 ppg & 3.2 rpg
21        Rayne Durant                          Junior              Forward           3.6 ppg & 3.3 rpg
 
THE COACHES
 
Howard is coached by Ty Grace (New Haven, '99), who is in her 11^th season and is the second winningest coach in school history. Old Dominion is led by Delisha Milton-Jones (Florida, '97), who is in her sixth season.
 
SERIES RECORD
 
This is the fourth meeting between the two institutions. ODU won in her first meeting, 75-54, in Norfolk, Va. The Monarchs came back the next year and defeated the Bison, 83-64, during the 2015-16 campaign. In their last meeting, ODU won, 75-58, in D.C., a year ago.
 
GAME NOTES
 
HOWARD
 
Howard is 2-0 at home this season…The Bison defense is holding opponents to 25-percent shooting from three and allowing only 62 points per game…Some of Howard's success in close victories has been its free throw shooting, converting on 75-percent from the charity stripe…The vaunted Howard defense continues to be its staple, recording 20 points off opponents' turnover while also averaging 10.1 steals and 4.3 blocks…senior forward Nile Miller (Woodbury, N.J.) is tied for seventh nationally in total steals and 34^th in steals per game…Thomas, Miller and freshman guard Ariella Henigan (Chicago) were named MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) honorable mention for their performances last week…Thomas is sixth in free throws attempts and tied for eighth free throws made nationally…As a team, the Bison rank 24^th three-point percentage defense…Howard is the preseason pick to win the MEAC title and Miller and Thomas are preseason First Team All-MEAC selections…Stewart's 23 points versus Fairfield (Dec. 5) was a career high with her previous high was 19 points when she was at Missouri State…Stewart has scored 66 points while connecting on 27-of-52 from the floor and 6-of-13 from the arc and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe in past four games…Howard played without the services of starting junior guard Destiny Bynum-Johnson (Newark, N.J.), who sat out versus Fairfield.
 
ODU
 
The Monarchs are holding their opponents to 25-percent shooting from three-point, but they are only converting on 26-percent as a team…Like Howard, ODU hangs its hat on its defense where it is averaging 11.4 steals, 7.6 blocks and forcing 21 turnovers per game…In the win over Delaware State, the Monarchs had 10 players score with the team leader at 11 points…ODU uses its bench liberally with 13 different players averaging between 2.0 and 11.0 points…The Monarchs (3-0) are undefeated at home this season.
 
NEXT UP
 
Howard continues its road swing in the state of Virgina when it takes on Virginia Wednesday (Dec. 10) at 7 p.m. On Dec. 17, ODU hosts Troy at 11 a.m.
 
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website www.hubison.com.