The Howard University women’s basketball team is now 3-1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) after their narrow 54-51 triumph over the Morgan State Bears on Jan. 27.
Despite the Bison’s overall 6-12 record, the team has demonstrated defensive efficiency and an elevated level of play within the MEAC conference, marking a mid-season boost.
The Bison are in the midst of their first winning streak this season after defeating the South Carolina State University Bulldogs, Norfolk State University Spartans and most recently, the Morgan State University Bears.
Redshirt freshman guard Tyana Walker has been a constant for the Bison, averaging 11 points on 32.7 percent shooting throughout the season. Among her standout performances was her season-high 24-point display against the Spartans, earning her the title of MEAC Rookie of the Week.
Despite a four-for-15 shooting performance against the Bears, Walker’s three steals and defensive effort contributed to the team’s victory, holding Morgan State to just 51 points. Walker, reflecting on the season, spoke about elevating the team’s backcourt play following star Destiny Howell’s season-ending injury.
“As hard as it is to see a teammate go down with an injury and be done for the season, I knew this year was always personally going to be about me adjusting to the in-game college level, as well as proving myself and showcasing my talent within the team,” Walker said.
“Nevertheless, a player like Destiny going down only elevated my mindset and game in doing my best to not be a drop off from when she was playing. We play for each other, hence our ‘We over Me’ mentality,” Walker finished.
As the team refines its defensive identity, sophomore forward Nile Miller underscores the importance of rebounding to halt second-chance opportunities. Facing opponents like the Spartans, the MEAC leaders in offensive rebounding, Miller emphasized, “the fewer second chances they get, the less points they score.”
Senior forward Kaiya Creek delivered an outstanding performance versus the defending conference champions Norfolk State University Spartans, logging 15 points on 53.8 percent shooting, with three steals, four assists and three blocks.
Creek, making significant contributions to the team’s performance, has propelled the Bison to a 5-3 record with her in the starting lineup. Head coach Ty Grace attributes Creek’s veteran presence and versatility as invaluable contributions.
“She’s played for me for four years now, so she knows what to do when she’s out on the floor,” Grace said. “She’s always had the physical attributes to be a solid player in this league. Her biggest strength is her versatility because she can play any spot on the floor and score inside and out. When you have a player with her capabilities and talent, it’s a tremendous spark for us.”
Acknowledging the team’s modest record, Grace sees how the toughness of their schedule has played to their advantage.
“Although our overall record isn’t what we’ve been used to, I feel like our non-conference games definitely prepared us for MEAC play,” Grace said.
“It is pretty much a second season with a clean slate. It is still very early and our overall goals and expectations go far beyond our current record. We are going to take it one game at a time, but the ultimate goal is to be playing for another MEAC Championship in March,” Grace concluded.
In their next MEAC matchup and with hopes to extend their winning streak, the Bison play the Coppin State Eagles on Monday, Jan. 29.
Copy edited by D’ara Campbell
