NORFOLK, Va. (March 11, 2026) - Senior forward Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Howard University women's basketball team to a 75-43 win over South Carolina State in the quarterfinal round of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
 
The streaking Bison (24-7), the No. 1 seed and MEAC Regular Season Champion, advance to Friday's semifinal round where they will face the winner of the Coppin State-North Carolina Central quarterfinal Friday (March 13) at noon.
 
Howard jumped out to the early 8-0 lead to start the game, opened a 21-9 first quarter advantage, and never looked back. Freshman guard Ariella Henigan (Chicago), the MEAC Rookie of the Year, got her team started by scoring the six points in the first two minutes.
 
From there, the Bison, who have now won 12 straight, liberally substituted their deep bench and expanded the lead, 38-15, at intermission.
 
Eleven different Bison scored as Howard dominated all phases of the game. Thomas, the MEAC Player of the Year and conference leading scorer and rebounder, connected on 8-of-16 from the floor while just missing a double-double with nine rebounds.
 
The scoring was spread out with redshirt junior guard Zoe Stewart (Terre Haute, Ind.) and junior forward Sa'lah Hemingway (San Bernardino, Calif.) each contributing nine points apiece and junior guard Destiny Bynum-Johnson (Newark, N.J.) adding eight points off the Howard bench.
 
The Howard reserves, who have played a key role in the team's current streak, outscored their counterpart, 31-9, while dominating the glass with a 54-32 advantage.
 
"We are confident in our bench," said Howard head coach Ty Grace, the MEAC Coach of the Year. "This is what we have done all season. The reserves are very comfortable when they come in the game."
 
The Bulldogs (5-24), the No. 8 seed, played with only eight players due to injuries, including three starters.
 
Shaunice Reed led her team with 15 points and six rebounds in the loss.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.