Brandon Walker for Urban Media Today
Nile Miller recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Areilla Henigan made clutch baskets to end Norfolk State’s three-year run. Howard captured the MEAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship with a 53-46 victory on Saturday evening at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
Both teams exchanged baskets twice, keeping the score even. Then Zennia Thomas broke the tie with a three-pointer, but Cire Worley quickly answered with her own. Jump shots by Miller and Henigan put the Bison up by seven at 16-9 to close out a quick, but oddly low-scoring, first quarter.
Norfolk State started the second quarter. Baskets by Jasha Clinton and Anjanae Richardson on consecutive possessions tied the score. Hennigan then broke the tie. Both teams began trading baskets and played faster than in the first quarter.
Norfolk State took the lead with a three-pointer by Worley, then held on to beat the Bison, 50-50 balls, and not letting the taller Bison outmuscle them on the boards. Sa’Lah Henningway scored a tough 10-foot jumper to tie the game before the end of the first half.
Norfolk State shot better from the field (40% to 31%) but lost second-chance points 15-2 in the first half.
Zoe Stewart scored twice to start the half for the Bison. Ciara Bailey answered with a cutback to tie the game. Miller hit a step-back jumper for Howard to go ahead. After the media timeout, Thomas converted a three-point play, putting the Bison up by seven. Howard then held the Spartans without a field goal for the last 3:27 of the third quarter.
End of the third quarter: Howard 42, Norfolk State 33.
Carmen Kweti ended Norfolk State’s field goal drought early in the fourth quarter. Da’Brya Clark hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five. Howard answered with a three from April Edwards on a second and then third chance, extending the lead to eight with 6:52 remaining. Nile Miller followed with another second-chance basket. Norfolk State fought on as Richardson scored, but Henigan answered with a clutch basket with over two minutes left. Norfolk State failed to convert a field goal in the last three minutes.
Howard won the second-chance points battle 24-6, making the difference. Both teams struggled from the floor: Howard shot 30%, Norfolk State 28%. Thomas, the tournament’s most valuable player, led all scorers with 15 points; Henigan added 11. Clinton led Norfolk State with 11, and Richardson had 10.
Howard will await its first opponent on Selection Sunday, Sunday evening.
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