DURHAM, N.C. – Freshman forward
Paulina Afriyie pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds for host North Carolina Central University in a 73-50 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's basketball loss to Howard University on Monday evening in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
The Bison dominated the post, outscoring the Lady Eagles 44-14 in the paint and finishing with a 50-37 rebounding advantage to pulling away for the 23-point victory.
Howard (8-9 Overall) remains one of the top teams in the MEAC with a 4-1 league record while NCCU (3-14 Overall) dipped below .500 in the conference at 2-3.
Afriyie added three points, one assist, one steal and one block to her dozen boards, which is the most rebounds grabbed by any Lady Eagle this season, in only her second career start.
Senior guard
Morgan Jones once again led the maroon and gray with 16 points and five steals. She has scored in double figures in 13 of 17 games. Freshman guard
Jada Blow followed with 11 points and three assists.
Blow scored seven of her 11 points in the first half, including a layup on the opening possession to give NCCU its only lead. Howard scored 13 of the next 15 point to quickly jump out 13-4.
The Bison led by 10 after the first quarter, but NCCU scored the first five points of the ensuing period on a 3-pointer by Blow and a layup by sophomore
Dominique Adams to cut the deficit in half at 22-17. Howard responded with their own trey and layup to regain the double-figure cushion. The Bison held a 37-23 lead at halftime and led by at least that 14-point margin throughout the second half.
Senior forward Sydni Johnson paced the victors with 21 points and seven rebounds. Senior Jasmine Hill added 12 points and junior forward Erin Blaine netted 10 points. Senior Te'Shya Heslip – who entered the contest leading the league in assists and steals and ranking fourth in scoring – contributed seven points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Howard shot 46.6-percent from the field, including 40% from behind the arc. The Lady Eagles were held to 25-percent precision from the floor, and just 22.2% accuracy from long range.
NCCU will next host MEAC archrival North Carolina A&T State University on Saturday at 2 p.m.
