WASHINGTON (February 17, 2025) – Freshman standout Saniyah King (Washington) scored a game-high 24 points and forwards Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) and Kaiya Creek (Seat Pleasant, Md.) came off the bench to combine for 26 points to help the Howard University women's basketball team pull away to a 72-59 win over Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) clash at Burr Gymnasium.
 
King, who was named MEAC Rookie of the Week for the ninth time this season before tipoff, got her team started, scoring nine of the team's 11 points in the first frame. King's previous game-high was 23 points twice.
 
But the visiting Hawks got 13 points from Zamara Haynes (seven points) and Dakieran Turner (six points) to take an 18-11 lead after one.
 
UMES (8-16, 3-6 MEAC) controlled the tempo throughout much of the second quarter before Howard rallied with Creek and King, helping the Bison close the deficit to one at intermission, 38-37.
 
The Howard defense tightened up in the third quarter, holding the Hawks scoreless for over five minutes but was not able to fully capitalize. The Bison led, 50-45, at the end of three periods.
 
Then, the bench all began to contribute. Thomas and guards Tyana Walker (Leawood, Kan.) and Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.) took turns during a 12-4 run over a four-minute stretch that essentially put the game away.
 
The Bison defense played a great part, forcing the visitors to 1-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc while forcing 26 turnovers.
 
The Hawks were led by Haynes (team-high 15 points & seven assists), Turner (14 points) and Ce'nara Skanes (14 points & 11 rebounds).
 
NEXT UP: UMES hosts North Carolina Central Saturday (Feb. 22) at 2 p.m. Howard begins the first of four road games Saturday (Feb. 22) when it travels to Baltimore to take on the Lady Bears of Morgan State at 2 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.