Women's Basketball | 3/24/2025 10:26:00 PM

CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 24, 2025) – Junior forward Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) continued to play her best basketball of the season, recording her fifth double-double (15 points & 10 rebounds) of the season, but it was not enough as the Howard University women's basketball team fell, 76-56, to the College of Charleston (CofC) in the second round of the Postseason WNIT at the TD Arena.
 
Thomas, who has been on a tear of late, was the Bison's only effective performer on the night.  The junior transfer from Kentucky connected on 5-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line while adding a career-high three blocks.
 
The Cougars (25-7) jumped out to a 19-8 first-quarter lead and never looked back as they led from start to finish.
 
Using a balanced scoring attack that featured four players to score in double figures, along with some stifling defense, the CofC never let the Bison get close as it increased the lead, 35-26, at the half. And then, put the game away with a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter.
 
Team-leading scorer graduate guard Destiny Howell (Queens, N.Y.) scored 13 points, but early foul trouble and an off-shooting night hurt Howard offensively. The New York native and first-team All-MEAC selection ended her productive career as the eighth leading scorer in school history. For the game, Howell connected on 4-of-16 shooting, including 1-of-7 from beyond the arc, her specialty.
 
Freshman guard Saniyah King (Washington), the team's second-leading scorer, was also held in check. The MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Rookie of the Year missed 15-of-her-18 shots taken, including 0-of-5 from three-point range. She did record four rebounds, four assists and two steals on the night.
 
The three top scorers managed 36 of the team's points as the remaining starters and reserves contributed only 20 points among them.
 
In addition to shooting a frigid 29-percent from the field, including 18-percent from the three-point line, the Bison lost the in-the-paint battle, 38-20, while giving the Cougars 24 points off 17 turnovers. College of Charleston came into the game leading the nation in points off turnovers.
 
The Cougars were led by CAA Player of the Year Taryn Barbot with a game-high 19 points, Brooks Sumpter (16 points), Taylor Barbot (15 points & 11 assists) and Lara Rohkohl (13 points & 12 rebounds).
 
The Bison close out the season at 22-12 (12-2 MEAC) and reached the MEAC Title game for the fifth consecutive year.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.