Dover, Del. --- Delaware State started quickly, but couldn't maintain the pace in a 72-64 loss to MEAC North leader Howard in Memorial Hall today.
The Lady Bison won their fourth straight game and sixth in the last seven to improve to a division leading 9-2 (13-3). The Lady dropped their third in a ron to fall to 3-11 overall and 2-7 in the MEAC.
Delaware State led 10-1 after four minutes and opened up a 15-5 lead on a lay up by Miajah Bullock with 4:17 left in the opening quarter.
Howard missed its first seven shots and committed six turnovers before hitting its first field goal with 5;48 left in the first quarter.
The Lady Bison with a 9-0 run and pulled to within 15-14 on a three-point play by Anzhane Hutton with 1:43 to go in the quarter. Howard took its first lead of the game 17-16 when Krislyn Marsh hit one of two free throws with five seconds left in the quarter.
The Bison went on a 13-3 run to open the second quarter. Reserve forward Makayla Minett's fast break layup gives HU a 30-19 lead with 3:41 left in the half.
Delaware State's Naomi Shorts breaks the run, as she hits a three pointer from the right corner.
The Lady Hornets trailed 34-26 at halftime.
Howard's guard Jayla Thornton opens the third quarter with a three pointer, extending the lead back to 11 points.
DSU responds with an 11-3 run, which Daije Harris caps off with a step back three-pointer to cut the deficit to just three points, at 40-37 with 6:34 left in the third quarter.
The Lady Hornets would not get any closer though, they had the Howard lead down to three on multiple occasions, but they were never able to tie the game up.
The Bison's lead ballooned up to as many as 13 points late in the fourth quarter.
DSU shot 21-of-66 from the field, just 5-of-21 on three pointers (23.8%) They made 17-of-26 free throws (65.4%).
Ashley Primas was tied with a team high 12 points, a season high for her, she scored 10 of her 12 points in the third quarter.
Kiana Coomber also had 12 points, she also added nine rebounds and six assists.
Shannon Dozier added 11 points.
Sharajah Collins tallied nine points and nine rebounds for the Lady Hornets.
Keys to the game
1. Howard outscored DSU 40-30 in points in the paint.
2. Howard's bench scored 27 points.
Up next
These two teams will run it back tomorrow, for the Lady Hornets' senior night game. DSU will have 10 players playing in their final home game of their collegiate careers.
