Saturday, January 19, 2013

Howard pulls out 44-42 victory over North Carolina A&T

Saadia Doyle
Howard University 
(Courtesy Howard University Athletics) 
GREENSBORO, N.C. (www.howard-bison.com)  Howard University worked to the bitter end for its fourth Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win of the season, despite an effortless first-half eight point lead, as the Lady Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University fell 42-44 to the Lady Bison on Saturday, Jan. 19 in the Corbett Sports Complex in Greensboro, N.C.

Senior Saadia Doyle finished the contest with her sixth double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Nicole Deterville tallied a season-best nine points. Senior Kara Smith finished eight points, as Cheyenne Curley-Payne and sophomore Cheyenne Brown gathered four points apiece. Curley-Payne also notched a team-best five assists.

After ending the first half of play with an eight point lead, Howard returned to the hardwood missing its first half momentum.

North Carolina A&T went on a 6-0 run to lead 24-22 by the 17:04 mark.

HU appeared unsynchronized, as they couldn't assemble an offensive front and tallied continues turnovers.

Doyle broke the Lady Aggie run with a jumper at the 16:04 mark, 26-22.

By the 12:01 mark, on a 7-3 run, the North Carolina Lady Aggies tied the ball game 29-29 for the second gridlock of the afternoon.

The back-and-forth action continued well into the final media timeout of the game, as a long-range basket from North Carolina A&T's Ariel Bursey turned a three point Howard lead into the fifth and final tie for a score of 39-39 at the 3:46 mark.

NCAT sent Doyle to the charity strip on two occasions four a four-point Howard lead.

Red-shirt junior Jerrelle Gorham sent A&T's Amber Calvin to the free-throw line, to bring the Lady Aggies within four by the 23-second mark. Fellow Aggie Eboni Ross hit the line and made a single free throw to bring her host squad within one, 43-42.

In under five seconds, NCAT sent Smith to the line for a chance at four points on two 1-of-1 options. Regrettably, the senior misses both opportunities.

With 1-second remaining, Curley-Payne sank a basket from the charity stripe securing the 44-42 win.
The mighty blue and white hit the first half with a slow start, as Doyle led the squad with seven of its eight points by the 11:40 mark.

Sharp-shooter Smith woke up her shot at the 9:53 with a two-pointer in the paint.

Fellow classmate Deterville led HU to its first dominate lead of the half with three consecutive drop-step layups for a score of 16-15 by the 4:46 mark.

On a 6-1 run, Howard headed to the locker room with an eight-point 24-16 lead.

Howard advances to 9-7 on the season and 4-1 in the MEAC.

The mighty blue and white continues its stint in North Carolina with a Monday, Jan. 21 5:30 p.m. meeting with the Lady Eagles of North Carolina Central University in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium on the NCCU campus.

For more information on Howard Women's Basketball, visit the official athletics website at www.howard-bison.com.

Box Score

By Ariel V. Germain, Assistant Sports Information Director
VISIT: HOWARD-BISON.COM
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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