The Howard Lady Bison defeated the Norfolk State Spartans in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship, claiming their first victory since 2022.
For three consecutive years, the Bison lost the MEAC title to Norfolk State. This year, they won 53-46 at the Norfolk Scope Arena to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Bison forward Nile Miller said the championship win meant so much after several attempts in previous seasons.
“I have been here for four years, and we tried each time to win,” Miller said. “This year, everything came together. The players and coaches were all committed to finally getting it done.”
During the game, Norfolk State had only two players score double digits. Spartan guard Anjanae Richardson scored 10 points, and guard Jasha Clinton added 11.
Their forward Carmen Kweti added 13 rebounds off the bench. Spartans leading scorer Da’Brya Clark only scored four points, shooting 1-12.
Meanwhile, Howard outscored Norfolk State 15-6 in the third quarter.
MEAC player of the year Zennia Thomas led the Bison in scoring with 15 points. Miller added 12 points along with 13 rebounds, while guard Ariella Henigan added 11 points.
As a team, the Bison struggled from the field, shooting 28%. However, their nearly 90% efficiency from the free-throw line compensated for the missed shots and sealed the game.
Howard finished 26-7, going 13-1 in conference play. They will enter the tournament with the momentum of a 14-game winning streak.
The Bison will face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.
William Armstead is a reporter for HUNewsService.com.
