WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Howard defeated North Carolina Central 66-58 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Burr Gymnasium. The Lady Bison, who improved to 20-7, never trailed after an 18-point first quarter but were pressured throughout by the Eagles. Nile Miller led Howard with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Zennia Thomas added 15 points and nine rebounds. Natalie Jasper scored a game-high 18 points for North Carolina Central, which fell to 8-17. The Eagles cut a 10-point halftime deficit to four entering the fourth quarter but could not complete the comeback. Both teams struggled offensively, combining for 49 turnovers. Howard secured the win at the free-throw line, making 23 attempts to North Carolina Central’s 15. Attendance was 1,121.

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined more by relentless defensive pressure and squandered opportunities than by offensive artistry, the Howard Lady Bison grinded out a 66-58 victory over the North Carolina Central Eagles in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball contest Saturday at Burr Gymnasium. The matchup, played before a crowd of 1,121, saw Howard improve to 20-7 overall and solidify its standing atop the conference, while North Carolina Central fell to 8-17. Despite the final margin, the Eagles remained within striking distance for the majority of the contest, largely due to a disruptive defense that forced 26 Howard turnovers. The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final three minutes. With Howard clinging to a 58-57 lead after North Carolina Central’s Tierney Coleman converted a layup, the Lady Bison executed a decisive 8-1 run to seal the victory. The sequence was ignited by Howard’s Zennia Thomas, who hit a crucial jump shot assisted by April Edwards with 1:17 remaining to extend the lead to three. After an empty possession by the Eagles, Howard’s Zoe Stewart delivered the dagger, sinking a three-pointer from an Edwards feed with 48 seconds left to push the advantage to 63-58. Howard then closed the game at the free-throw line to secure the win. Howard’s success was anchored by a dominant performance on the glass and an ability to draw fouls. The Lady Bison outrebounded the Eagles 50-38, including a commanding 14-5 edge on the offensive boards, which led to 18 second-chance points. Furthermore, Howard attempted 38 free throws, making 23, compared to North Carolina Central’s 23 attempts and 15 makes. This disparity proved pivotal in a game where both teams struggled from the field, with each shooting exactly 20-for-56. Nile Miller, a 6-foot-1 junior from Woodbury, New Jersey, was the cornerstone for Howard, posting a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds to go with three assists, a steal and a block in 33 minutes. Her presence inside was a constant challenge for the Eagles. Thomas, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Cleveland, Ohio, complemented Miller with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Stewart added 12 points. North Carolina Central was led by the backcourt duo of Natalie Jasper and Tierney Coleman. Jasper, a 5-foot-5 guard from Pittsburgh, scored a game-high 18 points. Coleman, a 5-foot-9 guard from Marrero, Louisiana, added 14 points and was a terror defensively, recording a game-high six steals. Aniya Finger, a 5-foot-11 forward from Charlotte, North Carolina, just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. The game’s tempo was set early by a frantic and mistake-prone first quarter that saw the teams combine for 12 turnovers. Howard built an 18-8 lead after one period, but North Carolina Central’s persistent defense fueled a rally. The Eagles chipped away, narrowing the gap to 30-24 by halftime and eventually outscoring Howard 18-20 in the third quarter to trail just 50-46 entering the final frame. Throughout the second half, North Carolina Central repeatedly threatened to take the lead, but critical turnovers—they committed 23 in the game—and an inability to consistently finish at the rim against Howard’s interior size prevented them from ever moving ahead. The Eagles’ offensive struggles were quantified by an offensive rating of just 65.2 points per 100 possessions, while Howard managed a more efficient 76.7. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Howard, which defeated North Carolina Central 69-61 on January 17. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Howard entered the game with a 96.5 percent probability to win. Howard will look to continue its conference success when it hosts Coppin State on Thursday. North Carolina Central travels to face Maryland-Eastern Shore the same night.

Preview: North Carolina Central Eagles at Howard Lady Bison WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Howard Lady Bison, riding high near the top of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings, will host the North Carolina Central Eagles in a women’s basketball matchup on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Burr Gymnasium. Howard (19-7 overall) enters with significant momentum, having won eight of its last nine games. The Lady Bison are coming off a dominant 66-45 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Feb. 14, where April Edwards scored 15 points. Edwards has been a consistent contributor for Howard, averaging 6.8 points and 2.8 assists over her last five contests. North Carolina Central (8-16) seeks to build on a narrow road win, a 68-65 victory at South Carolina State on Wednesday. In that game, Tierney Coleman led the Eagles with 17 points and seven rebounds. Coleman has been a key all-around player, posting 17 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and a block across her last two outings. The Eagles will need another strong performance from Coleman and supporting contributors like Natalie Jasper, who scored 16 points against South Carolina State, and Aniya Finger, who recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Howard won the previous meeting this season, 69-61, at North Carolina Central on Jan. 17. The Lady Bison have been formidable at home in conference play. A victory would bolster Howard’s position in the MEAC, while North Carolina Central aims to string together consecutive wins for the first time since early February. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Howard’s Burr Gymnasium.