BALTIMORE (February 22, 2025) – Freshman guard Saniyah King (Washington) poured in a career-high 25 points and graduate guard Destiny Howell (18 points) and junior forward Zennia Thomas (15 points) combined for 33 points to lead the Howard University women’s basketball team to a 62-53 win at Morgan State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown at Hill Fieldhouse.
The win was the sixth straight for the streaking Bison, improving their record (16-9, 8-1 MEAC). The Bears (11-14, 4-6 MEAC) dropped their second straight contest and sixth-of-their-last-eight matchups.
A freshman and odds-on favorite to win the MEAC Rookie of the Year, King had one of her best shooting efforts of the season, connecting 8-of-18 from the floor, including a career-best 5-of-7 from downtown and a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. The leader in assists (5.1 per game) in the conference, King failed to record an assist for the first time this season. But she did add two steals to her stat line. The talented first-year Bison was named MEAC Rookie of the Week for the ninth time this past week after scoring what was then a season-best 24 points in the win over Maryland Eastern Shore (Feb. 17).
The two teams battled throughout most of the first half that featured 11 lead changes and four ties. The Bison were able to maintain a 28-27 lead at intermission.
Then came the all-important third quarter where the Bison shot a sizzling 65-percent (9-of-14) from the floor, including 6-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The defense played an equally important role, limiting the Bears to 3-of-8 from the field, including 0-for-7 from downtown. Howard went into the fourth quarter with a 53-41 advantage.
Offensively, the Bison cooled off in the fourth quarter, making only 1-of-10 shots in the period and going scoreless for over five minutes. But they were able to keep the Bears at bay by closing it out at the free throw line, converting 7-of-12 to come away with the victory.
Thomas (Cleveland) added seven rebounds a career-high three blocks to her team’s cause. Howell (Queens, N.Y.) grabbed five rebounds and dealt out two assists.
Junior forward Nile Miller (Haddonfield, N.J.) contributed to the victory with seven boards and three assists.
Morgan State was led by Naya Ojukwu, who scored a career-high 29 points while grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds for sixth double-double of the season. No other Bear reached double figures in scoring.
BISON NOTES: Howell has now knocked down 35-of-her-last-38 free throw attempts while King has reached double figures in 13-of-the-last-14 games.
NEXT UP: Morgan State travels to Norfolk, Va., to take on the Spartans of Norfolk State Monday (Feb. 24) at 5:30 p.m. Howard looks to extend its streak when it takes on Coppin State in Baltimore Monday (Feb. 24) at 5:30 p.m.