Shannon Carlisle scored a season-high 21 points to lead four players in double figures as Howard defeated Bethune-Cookman, 79-70 in a MEAC women’s game at Burr Gymnasium.
A pre-season All-MEAC selection, Carlisle has struggled though most of the season. But the 5-7 senior guard from Indianapolis, IN showed flashes during Saturday’s win over Florida A&M when she scored 14 points.
Carlisle hit on 9 of 17 shots, including 3-of-6 from three-point range while also grabbing eight rebounds.
But as important as it was to have Carlisle returning to form, Howard head coach Cathy Parson was especially pleased with the continued solid play of junior center Tamaya Daniels and unexpected contribution from Terease Thornton and freshmen guards Zykia Brown and Jalisa Pullins.
Daniels, who scored the game winning basket in the win over FAMU and was named the MEAC Player of the Week, picked up where she left off, recording her second straight double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
“She’s really come into her own as a player,” said Coach Parson. “She is becoming more consistent in her play at both ends. It was good to see her have another good game.”
Thornton scored a career-best 14 points and recorded the first double-double of her career (14 points, 10 rebounds). The play of Daniels and Thornton helped Howard win the battle of the board, 60-46.
Added Coach Parson. “Terease has been hampered by a patella injury, but with us being short a few players, I told her that we really needed her to play tonight. She turned in an outstanding performance.”
Brown provided a big boost off the bench with 10 points in only 17 minutes of play. Pullins had her best floor game of the season, dishing out a career-best 6 assists as Howard was credited with 15 assists on 27 field goals.
“We have a lot of great guards,” said Coach Parson. Ziggy (Zykia) has waited her turn playing behind Lonice Kelly. We keep our opponents off balance when we can get these kinds of performances from our guards.”
Howard (2-12 overall, 2-1 in the MEAC) took an early 10-point lead, led 38-27 at the half and never relinquished the lead.
The Lady Wildcats (3-11 overall, 0-3 in the MEAC) were able to get within striking distance on several occasions, but each time Howard was have an answer with a forced turnover or a defensive stop.
BC-U was led by Natasha Ferguson, who scored a game-high 23 points while grabbing 16 rebounds, and Keturah Newkirk (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Demetria Frank (11 points).
NEXT UP: Bethune-Cookman plays at Coppin State on Saturday at 2 pm while Howard travels to Winston-Salem, NC to take on the Lady Rams of Winston-Salem State University at 2 pm.
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