Curley-Payne’s Game-High 14 points Leads HU past Radford in Home Opener
WASHINGTON, DC – Howard women's basketball defeated Radford (1-1) 54-46 at Burr Gymnasium on Thurs. Nov. 18 for its first win of the season. With the win, the Lady Bison improve to 1-2 on the season. The team is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Loyola beginning at 7 p.m.
"I am very pleased with our performance," said head coach Niki Geckeler. "This was a great stepping stone."
The night's effort was split, as three Lady Bison placed in double-figures. Cheyenne Curley-Payne paced HU with a solid performance and game-highs of 14 points and four assists, while pulling down five off the glass in 26 minutes of action.
Tamoria Holmes went 5-for-12 from the floor for 12 points on the night. Saadia Doyle finished with 11 points and three rebounds. "Curley-Payne, Holmes, and Doyle made great plays when we needed them," said Geckeler.
The Highlanders went on a 7-2 run to close out the first stint to take a slim 25-20 cushion heading into the lockerroom. The score was knotted five times, and the lead changed hands six. Both teams played very physical and constantly battled down low. Howard scored 10 of its 20 points in the paint.
HU opened scoring in the second 20 off a layup by Kara Smith within the first minute. Four straight points by the Lady Bison gave Howard a 32-30 margin at 14:59 – its first advantage since the 4:11 mark of the first half.
HU led by as many as eight, 46-38, off a Holmes three-pointer with just over four minutes remaining in regulation – the widest margin held in the game by either team. The Highlanders pulled to within four, 50-46, with a Da'Nar Erwinspencer basket at the 1:19 mark. Curley-Payne and Doyle hit free-throws down the stretch to hold off RU for the 54-46 win.
The Lady Bison dominated down low – holding a commanding 36-28 advantage on the glass, while also outscoring the Highlanders 26-18 in the paint. Portia Deterville was just a basket shy of a double-double with a game-high 10 boards and eight points.
HU shot a season-best 42.9 percent (21-for-49) from the floor. The Lady Bison scored 14 points off 17 Highlander miscues.
Howard will host Loyola University on Sat. Nov. 20. The game is slated for 7 p.m.
