NORFOLK, Va. (March 4, 2026) – There will be a lot on the line when the Howard University women's team travels to Norfolk, Va., to take on rival Norfolk State (NSU) in an important game Thursday (March 5) at Joseph G. Echols Gymnasium. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
 
A game separates the two perennial conference powerhouses. The Bison have one loss while the Spartans have two setbacks. This game is for the top seed in the upcoming MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Tournament (March 11-14) at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
 
Howard comes into the game riding a 10-game win streak while the Spartans have won six-in-a-row since losing to HU back in January.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison Nation can follow all the action via live stats.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
HOWARD
 
Saturday (Feb. 28), freshman guard Ariella Henigan (Chicago) poured in a career-high 21 points to lead four Bison in double figures as HU used a strong third quarter run to put away Morgan State at Hill Field House.
 
NORFOLK STATE
 
On Feb. 28, Norfolk State (16-12, 11-2 MEAC) extended its win streak to six when it defeated Coppin State, 73-34.  In that game, the Spartans' balanced attack was led by Da'Brya Clark with 15 points.
 
PROBABLE STARTERS/KEY RESERVES
 
HOWARD PROBABLE STARTERS
 
No.      Name                                      Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                        
24        Zennia Thomas                       Senior             Forward          15.4 ppg & 7.8 rpg
25        Nile Miller                               Senior             Forward          7.7 ppg & 5.8 rpg
11        Sa'lah Hemingway                  Junior              Forward          3.5 ppg & 3.1 rpg
23        Zoe Stewart                            R-Junior          Guard              12.0 ppg & 83-percent FT%
4          Ariella Henigan                       Freshman        Guard              8.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg & 57 assists
 
HOWARD KEY RESERVES
 
No.      Name                                      Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                        
15        April Edwards                         R-Sophomore Guard              5.6 ppg & 86-percent FT%
21        Rayne Durant                          Junior              Forward          2.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg & 17 blocks
5          Destiny Bynum-Johnson        Junior              Guard              6.0 ppg & 4.2 rpg
 
NSU PROBABLE STARTERS
 
No.      Name                                      Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                        
1          Da'Brya Clark                          Junior              Guard              14.4 ppg & 5.1 rpg
4          Anjanae Richardson               Junior              Guard              10.6 ppg & 4.5 rpg
3          Jasha Clinton                          Graduate        Guard              13.1 ppg & 4.1 rpg
24        Le'Aire Nicks                           Sophomore     Center             5.5 ppg & 4.1 rpg
7          Cire Worley                             Junior              Guard              7.5 ppg & 4.9 rpg
 
NSU KEY RESERVES
 
No.      Name                                      Class                Position           2025-26 Stats                        
25        Ciara Bailey                             Senior             Forward          5.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg & 12 blocks
15        Carmen Kweti                         Senior             Forward          4.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg & 35 blocks
20        Niyah Gaston                          Junior              Guard              3.6 ppg & 86-percent FT%
 
THE COACHES
 
Howard is led by Ty Grace (New Haven, '99), who is in her 11^th season and the second winningest coach in school history. Norfolk State is coached by Jermaine Woods (Norfolk State, '11), who is his first season.
 
SERIES RECORD
 
Howard snapped the Spartans five-game win streak with a 68-59 victory inside Burr Gymnasium earlier this season (Jan. 31).
 
The Bison last win at Norfolk was February 25, 2017.
 
Norfolk State leads the tightly contested series, 22-13, dating back to 2007. The two have met for the tournament title four straight seasons.
 
GAME NOTES
 
HOWARD
 
Howard is holding opponents to 26-percent shooting from three and allowing only 58.5 points per game…the Bison lead the MEAC in scoring (67.0 ppg), field goal shooting percentage (40-percent) and assists/turnover ratio…In the country, the Bison are 21^st in forced turnovers…Nationally, individually, senior forward Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) is tied for 10^th in free throw attempts and 21^st in free throws made…Thomas, the leading candidate for MEAC Player of the Year, leads the league in scoring (15.4 ppg), rebounding (7.8 rpg) and field goal shooting percentage (46-percent)…Senior forward Nile Miller (Woodbury, N.J.), who is having her best season, ranks second in field goal shooting percentage (43-percent), third in steals, eighth in rebounding (5.8 rpg) and seventh in blocks…Miller and Thomas are preseason First Team All-MEAC selections…Thomas, who is the reigning MEAC Player of the Week, has reached double figures in all but two games this season and has recorded nine double doubles…Redshirt junior guard Zoe Stewart (Terre Haute, Ind.) ranks second in field goal shooting percentage (43-percent), fourth in three-point shooting percentage (35-percent), seventh in scoring (12.1 ppg) and 10^th in three pointers made…Junior guard Destiny Bynum-Johnson (Newark, N.J.) is ninth in three-point shooting percentage…Henigan, who has been twice named the MEAC Rookie of the Week, is fifth in free throw shooting percentage (77-percent) and ninth in steals…Junior forward Rayne Durant (New Haven, Conn.) is 10^th in blocks…The Bison finished the season undefeated at home for the first time in over two decades (11-0)…On Feb. 23, Miller was named MEAC Player of the Week for just the second time in her career… Miller has been MEAC Defensive Player of the Week several times…Howard is beginning to get more consistent scoring and firepower from its bench…Bynum-Johnson, Durant, redshirt sophomore guard April Edwards (Little Rock, Ark.) and freshmen guards Dylan Watson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Emma Nuquay (Waldorf, Md.) are all contributing to the team, offensively and defensively, with their different skill sets.
 
NSU
 
In the MEAC, the Spartans rank No. 1 in defensive scoring (58.0 ppg), field goal percentage defense (34-percent), three-point field goal defense (26-percent), three pointers made per game (5.9), blocks (4.9), assists (4.9) and steals (12.8) and turnover margin…Individually, Clark leads the MEAC in three-pointers made per game…Jasha Clinton leads the MEAC in steals and assists…Anjanae Richardson is third in assists/turnover ratio, fourth in steals, sixth in assists and ninth in scoring (10.6)…Cire Worley is fifth in three-point shooting percentage (33-percent).…Carmen Kweti leads the MEAC in blocks…Niyah Gatson is second in three-point shooting percentage (37-percent)…Nationally, the Spartans are ranked 10^th in three-point shooting defense (26-percent), 21^st turnover forced for points and 40^th in scoring defense.
 
NEXT UP
 
This game has important implications.
 
If Howard wins, it will be the regular season champion and top seed in the upcoming tournament. If however Norfolk State is victorious, they will end in a tie for the regular season title. A tiebreaker would then determine who will get the top seed.
 
The tournament begins March 11-14 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.