Saadia Doyle Named HSRN National Player Of The Week

Courtesy Howard University Sports Information

Saadia Doyle is the winner of the HSRN National basketball fan poll. The Atlanta, Georgia native currently leads the MEAC in scoring (18.3 ppg, 38th in NCAA), ranks second in rebounding (8.8 rpg), and fourth in field goal percentage (.448). She was recently tabbed as MEAC Player of the week.

The sophomore is seven points away from hitting the 1,000-point milestone and has tallied over 500 rebounds for her career. In addition, she has also recorded 12 double-double performances on the year.

Doyle was nominated for her performances against Norfolk State and Florida A&M. She led the Bison to a 2-0 week averaging a double-double with 28 points and 11.5 rebounds. In the 66-49 win over Norfolk St. she had 38 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and three steals. In the 67-58 victory over Florida A&M she finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Each week during the season, HSRN's staff select the top performances from all HBCU action and give the fans across the country a chance to vote for the Player of the Week.

HSRN developed the fan poll to get all HBCU alumni, students and fans involved with the Edit HTMLnational process and to also give everyone a chance to consistently keep up with the individual performances around the country. This web site and its broadcasts are designed to keep people abreast of all action around HBCU athletic competition.

By Jamilah Corbitt
Assistant Director of Sports Information
Howard University

Doyle's Career-High 38 Leads Lady Bison Over Norfolk State

NORFOLK, VA – Saadia Doyle led all scorers with a career-high of 38 points en-route to a 66-49 rout over Norfolk State (8-14, 1-11) on Mon. Feb. 14. Doyle also pulled down a game-best 10 off the glass and went 17-for-20 from the charity stripe. The sophomore is now 47 points away from 1,000. With the win, the Lady Bison improve to 7-5 in conference play.

HU (11-15, 7-5 MEAC) started the game with seven unanswered points – capped by an Adele Walton three-pointer. The Lady Bison pushed the advantage to double-digits, 13-2, with a pair from the line by Doyle at the 13:10 mark. Howard kept its double-digit lead throughout the half and went into intermission with a comfortable 21-point cushion, 33-12.

In the first 20 minutes, Howard held the Spartans to just 20 percent shooting (5-for-24) while going 12-for-22 from the field for a 54 percent clip.

In the second period, the Spartans rattled off nine straight to make it 35-22 at the 14:25 mark. The Lady Bison ended the run with a jumper by Holmes. Howard led by as many as 18 (51-33) midway through the half, but Norfolk used a 10-4 run to cut it to 55-43 at the 7:25 mark. The Spartans would not get any closer, however.

For the game, the Lady Bison shot 43.5 from the field (20-for-46) and converted 22 Spartan turnovers into 29 points. Prior to today’s matchup, Norfolk lead the meac in field-goal percentage, shooting 40 percent on the season. However, The Lady Bison held the Spartans to 28.8 percent from the floor. Howard also edged NSU on the glass 37-33 – including 27 defensive rebounds.

Tamoria Holmes was the only other HU player to finish in double-digits with 11 points and five rebounds. Kara Smith chipped in with seven points, four boards, and four assists.

For Norfolk State, Sarah Daily was the only player to finish in double figures with 10 points. Whitney Long tallied nine nine points behind 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc.

Howard is back in action on Sat. Feb. 19 when it hosts Florida A&M for its annual Pink Zone initiative. The game is slated for 2 p.m.

By Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information
Howard University

Doyle’s 30 points Not Enough In Howard's 80-55 Loss to Vanderbilt

Coach Niki Reid Geckeler

Howard will host Radford on Thurs. Nov. 18 beginning at 7 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium

NASHVILLE, TN – Saadia Doyle scored a game-high 30 points as the Howard University women’s basketball team fell to Vanderbilt (1-0), 80-55 in Nashville, Tenn. With the loss, the Lady Bison drop to 0-2 on the season. HU is back in action on Nov. 18 when it hosts Radford beginning at 7 p.m.

“I am pleased with Doyle’s overall performance this weekend,” said head coach Niki Geckeler.

Along with Doyle’s game high, she also pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds for her second-straight double-double of the season. The team was outrebounded 44-32, however. Cheyenne Curley-Payne pulled down five off the glass and dished out four assists.

Tamoria Holmes chipped in with nine points and a team-best five steals. HU outscored the Commodores 6-2 in fast-break points and had 12 points off 16 Vanderbilt turnovers.

“There is a lot of promise for the future,” said Geckeler. “We played with a lot of confidence in the second half.”

The Lady Bison dug themselves an early hole and trailed 49-22 heading into intermission. Howard came out strong in the second half with intesity and outscored VU 33-31, but could not break the Commodores double-digit advantage.

HU held Vanderbilt to just a 25 percent shooting clip (7-for-28), while hitting 13-of-32 for a 40.6 percentage from the floor.

The Lady Bison started the second stint with a 15-5 run over a five-plus span – capped by a Holmes triple – to make it 55-34 at the 14:23 mark. Unfortunately Howard would not get any closer than that as the Commodores pushed the spread to as many as 30 (74-44) with just over five minutes remaining in regulation.

For the game, HU hit 22-for-63 (34.9 percent) from the field, while Vandy finished 23-for-53 (43.4 percent).

The Commodores had four players reach double-figures with Stephanie Holzer leading the team with 20 points and 11 boards off the bench. Vandy’s bench outscored Howard’s bench 35-9. Christina Foggie had 14 points while Jasmine Lister and Angela Puleo finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

“We still have a lot of work to do,” said Geckeler. “We have to focus on defense and rebounding.”

Press Release
Jamilah Corbitt
Assistant Director of Sports Information
Howard University
howard-bison.com