BALTIMORE (January 22, 2026) – Senior forward Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) scored a game-high 22 points and had one of her best all-around performances of the year to lead the Howard University women's basketball team to a 64-51 win over Coppin State at the Physical Education Complex Arena.
 
The win was the second straight for the Bison and fourth-in-the-last-five games.
 
Thomas, a strong candidate for MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Player of the Year consideration, connected on 6-of-12 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free throw line while grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out five dimes and adding three blocked shots for good measure.
 
But it took all of that and then some for the Bison to hold off the pesky Eagles, who were led by Sydney Burris.
 
Coppin State (4-17, 2-3 MEAC) jumped out to the 19-16 first quarter lead.
 
The Eagles were able to capitalize on some uncharacteristic Howard mistakes by taking HU out of its comfort zone.
 
"I thought we were playing a little too fast," said Howard head coach Ty Grace postgame. "I told them that we needed to settle down and get back to our style of play."
 
The coach-to-the-team conversation got the squad's attention as Howard outscored the hosts, 11-6, in the second stanza and took a 27-24 lead to the locker room.
 
The Bison defense began to take control of the game in the third quarter as they used an 14-0 run over a three-minute stretch to extend the lead, 43-35, at the end of three.
 
With Coppin State having problems taking care of the basketball and missing shots, the Bison were able to capitalize on the scoring of Thomas, who would score a basket, grab a key rebound or find teammates open when she was double teamed. The Eagles had no answer.
 
"We got another outstanding performance from her," said Grace of her senior forward."
 
Redshirt junior guard Zoe Stewart (Terre Haute, Ind.), the team's second leading scorer, finished with 11 points and freshman guard Ariella Henigan (Chicago) recorded 10 points and four steals.
 
Statistics can sometime be misleading but not with the consistency of the Bison defense. Howard (14-7, 4-1 MEAC) held Coppin State to 27-percent shooting (15-of-55), including 21-percent (4-of-19) from beyond the arc. The vaunted defense forced 24 Eagles turnovers that led to 18 points.
 
Howard has held its last seven opponents to under 66 points. Yet, another takeaway from the win is the free throw shooting where the Bison converted on 21-of-25 from the foul line.
 
Coppin State was led by McBride with 13 points and Burris netted 12 points. No other Eagles player reached double figures in scoring.
 
NEXT UP: Howard has a quick turnaround when it hosts Morgan State Saturday (Jan. 24) at 11 a.m., inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.