Women's Basketball 3/4/2008 5:00:00 AM MEAC Media Relations

Strong Second Half Propels Howard To Win Over Norfolk State

Reyna Gross, Tamaya Daniels and Asha Santee combined to score 41 of their team’s 50 second half points as Howard came from behind to defeat Norfolk State, 93-84 in a MEAC women’s game at Burr Gymnasium.

The win snapped a four-game losing skid for Howard (4-24 overall, 3-12 in the MEAC).

The game was a nip-and-tuck affair with neither team being able to get much breathing room. Then Norfolk State (5-21 overall, 1-14 in the MEAC) threatened to pull away when it opened its biggest lead at 71-64 at the 9:17 mark.

The Lady Bison then took advantage of the undermanned visitors, who had only seven players in uniform and put together a 13-5 run over the next four minutes to take the lead for good at 77-76 lead on a short turnaround in the lane by Amanda Edwards, who scored a career-high 14 points on 7-for-7 shooting.

From there, Daniels, Gross and Santee took turns scoring and the worn-down Lady Spartans failed to answer.

It proved to be one of the best shooting performances of the season for Howard as it connected on 57 percent (16 of 28) in the second half, 54 percent for the game. Daniels, who finished with 23 points, did not miss a shot in her seven attempts after intermission.

Santee, who was coming off a career-high 28 points in Saturday’s loss to NC A&T, played a key role in the comeback, at one point scoring 8 straight points as she finished with a game-high 24. She also had a career-best 6 assists.

Gross recorded a rare double-double of 19 points and 10 assists. Most of her points came from the free throw line as she drove by fatigued Norfolk State defenders who were forced to foul. She was 13-for-15 from the charity stripe.

Norfolk State made a valiant effort despite being undermanned. The Lady Spartans had five players in double figures with Daniele Tate leading the way with 20, Raychele Payne with 19, Tashawna Higgins with 15 before fouling out. Genor Dalton with 13 and Natasha Huntley with 10.

GAME NOTES: Howard had a season-best 21 assists on its 32 field goals...Tate scored a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds...the win avenged a disappointing 94-88 overtime loss to Norfolk State on February 2 when the Lady Bison blew a late lead.