NORFOLK, Va. (March 14, 2026) – Howard University women's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack and a big advantage in second-chance points to defeat Norfolk State, 53-46, Saturday to capture the 2026 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship at The Scope.
The Bison, who last won the MEAC title and an NCAA automatic berth to Big Dance in 2022, were led by MEAC Player of the Year and tournament MVP senior forward
Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) with 15 points and eight rebounds. Fellow classmate
Nile Miller (Woodbury, N.J.) chipped in 12 points and a game-high 13 boards while freshman guard
Ariella Henigan (Chicago), the league's Rookie of the Year, added 11 points.
Thomas and Henigan were named to the MEAC All-Tournament Team.
Norfolk State, which was seeking its fourth straight tournament crown and NCAA postseason appearance, ended its campaign at 18-13 overall. The Spartans represented the MEAC in March Madness for three consecutive years (2023, 2024 & 2025), a fact that was not overlooked by Howard head coach
Ty Grace.
"I have to take my hat off to Norfolk State and its program," said Grace, who was selected MEAC Most Outstanding Coach. "They have set a standard in the league that has forced all of us to step things up. We expected this game to be a tough and physical one, but we prepared for it all season. I thought Zennia (Thomas),
Nile Miller, Ariella (Henigan) and
Sa'lah Hemingway played extremely well."
Miller, the only senior attending the postgame press conference, expressed her delight in finally winning an MEAC Tournament title.
"I have been here (MEAC Tournament) for four years and we tried each time to win. This year, everything came together. The players and coaches were all committed to finally getting it done."
Jasha Hinton had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead Norfolk State. Anjanae Richardson followed with 10 points.
Following a closely contested first half, the two teams entered the locker room deadlocked, 27-27. Thomas had eight points and five rebounds in the period. Henigan and Miller added seven and six points, respectively, for the Bison.
Richardson notched eight points and Cire Worley and LeAire Nicks recorded six points each to pace Norfolk State, who trailed 16-9 after one period, but outscored Howard 18-11 to forge the halftime tie.
The Bison got back-to-back baskets from redshirt junior guard
Zoe Stewart (Terre Haute, Ind.) to begin the second half and took a 31-27 with 7:17 on the third period clock. After a Ciara Bailey shot closed the gap to a one-possession game, 31-29, at the 7:02 mark, Howard went on a 9-2 run to build a 42-33 edge after three quarters.
The Spartans begin the final period with a 10-5 spree, including five points by Clinton, to come to within four, 47-43, with 4:54 to play, but Miller got inside for a basket for Howard, and a 49-43 advantage with 4:12 left.
Norfolk State could get no closer and the Bison held on by scoring four of the game's final seven points for the final margin, 53-46.
The win gave Howard a sweep of the MEAC tournament titles this season as the Howard men defeated North Carolina Central 70-63 in the men's championship.
Howard improved to 26-7 on the year and will learn its opponent and site on Sunday during the NCAA Selection Show on ESPN.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
