WASHINGTON, D.C. – A contested potential go-ahead driving layup in the final five seconds missed its mark for the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team in a 65-63 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference road loss to Howard University on Saturday afternoon inside Burr Gymnasium.
Freshman guard
Nia Ford led the Eagles with 19 points. Ford scored 17 of those points in the second half, making five of her seven 3-point attempts over that span to help NCCU close a 10-point, second-half deficit to just one point on three occasions in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore guard
Paris McBride made a driving layup down the left-side lane with 31.7 seconds left in regulation to pull the Eagles within one point for a final time and then she drew a charge on the ensuing Bison possession to give the visitors a chance at taking the lead. However, NCCU's contested shot was rebounded by Howard and the Bison made one more free throw in the final second on the way to winning their sixth straight game and remain in sole possession of first place in the league standings.
Howard (16-8 Overall, 10-2 MEAC) was led by junior forward Brooklynn Fort-Davis, who tallied her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Six different Eagles scored in the first quarter as NCCU led 14-13 after 10 minutes of play. A layup by freshman
Diamond Thomas provided the maroon and gray with their largest lead of 22-15 midway through the second quarter before NCCU settled for a 26-23 edge at halftime.
Howard scored the first eight points of the second half over in just 71 seconds to take the lead for good. The Bison then extended their lead to as many as 10 points in the third quarter before NCCU made its comeback attempt.
Ford made all three of her attempts from behind the arc in the fourth quarter and scored 11 points in the final stanza to rally the Eagles for a chance to win.
A total of three NCCU players scored in double figures. McBride and senior forward
Ashlyn Lockard both contributed 11 points. Lockard, Thomas and sophomore
Tianna Carter finished with joint-share of the team lead in rebounding with seven boards apiece. Junior Kira Lowary chipped in eight points and five assists.
NC Central (4-18, 2-10) will next play at Norfolk State University on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
