HOWARD FALLS 71-64 TO COPPIN STATE ON SATURDAY
Written by Ariel V. Germain, Assistant Sports Information Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. (www.howard-bison.com) - February 23 – It was somber afternoon for the Howard University Lady Bison, as they suffered a 71-64 loss to the Coppin State Lady Eagles in Burr Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 23 in Washington, D.C.
Three student-athletes in blue and white finished in double figures. Saadia Doyle led the team with 24 points, while Kara Smith tallied 13 points and Jerelle Gorham notched 11 points. Cheyenne Curley-Payne guided HU in assists with eight, as she and Nicole Deterville pulled down a team-high six rebounds apiece.
As a team, Howard shot 81 percent from the charity stripe (13-16), 41 percent from the field (25-61) and 11 percent from three-point range (1-9).
To overpower the Lady Bison, Coppin State outscored HU in the paint 42-36, while the bench outscored Howard 20-6.
HU and CSU exchanged the lead throughout the first 12 minutes of action, until the Lady Eagles took the lead at the 8:41 mark and paced to 17-13 run for a halftime score of 32-29.
Saturday's halftime deficit marks the second time that Howard was losing at the half and couldn't pullout the win at home.
After trailing into the first-half intermission, Howard hit a 23-15 run for the highest lead of the half. Doyle began the run with a layup, as Smith supplemented the effort with her own layup and a long-range basket.
By the 7:10 mark, the contest was gridlock for the ninth time of the game with a score of 56-56.
As Howard regained the lead, CSU continued to find success in the paint and secured a 71-64 win over HU.
Howard drops to 16-10 overall, 10-4 in the conference, 8-3 at home and 8-7 on the road.
Howard takes on its final road opponent on Monday, Feb. 25 with Maryland Eastern Shore in Salisbury, Md., at 5:30 p.m.
-HU-
