Women's Basketball 1/21/2008 5:00:00 AM MEAC Media Relations

S.C. State Lady Bulldogs Nab Easy 97-45 Win over Howard

Marie Reid had 19 points off the bench in only 18 minutes of playing time to power South Carolina State to its highest point total in seven seasons in a 97-45 win over visiting Howard Monday.

Brittany Baity added 17 points, Sophilia Hipps contributed 16 and a career-high nine assists, and Jenell Moore had 11 points and 14 rebounds to register her third straight double-double and the fifth of the season in the victory.

Coach Tonya Mackey's team, which ended a nine-game home stand with the triumph, improved to 5-10 overall and 2-2 in the MEAC.

The Lady Bison were paced by Asha Santee with 19 points and Tamaya Daniels with eight points and 11 rebounds. Howard dropped to 2-14 and 2-2 in league play.

SC State, which scored the most points since a 107-104 overtime win over Howard during the 2000-01 campaign, took control early. A 3-pointer by Baity with 12:22 left in the opening half, staked the Lady Bulldogs to a 27-10 lead.

Santee put in a short jumper for Howard and Lonice Kenley followed with a 3-pointer to slice the lead to 27- 15 with 11:03 on the clock, but SC State's Reid got free inside for a lay-up to ignite a 13-0 run that put the host ahead 40-15 at the 6:09 mark of the period. The Lady Bulldogs led 49-24 at the break.

Daniels got the first basket of the second half for Howard to cut the margin to 49-26, but Hipps answered with a 3-pointer for S.C. State for a 52-26 edge at the 19:08 mark.

The Bison were never able to cut into the lead, which swelled to 45 points, at 87-42 with 4:56 on the clock and was as high as 55 in the final minute.

The Lady Bulldogs had one of their best shooting games of the season, connecting on 54.1 percent (20-37) in the second half and 50 percent (38-76) for the contest. Coach Tonya Mackey's team was also dominant on the boards with a 62-39 edge in rebounds.

SC State, which compiled a disappointing 3-6 record during its nine-game home stand, hits the road for a pair of league games against Norfolk State Saturday (Jan. 26) and North Carolina A&T Monday (Jan. 28).