Women's Basketball

February 18, 2006

Benson's Strong Second Half Leads Howard To Win Over B-CC

Benson's Strong Second Half Helps Howard Hold Off Bethune-Cookman

Washington, DC-February 18-Melloni Benson scored 11 of her team-high 18 points in the second half to help Howard University hold off Bethune-Cookman College, 67-63 in a women's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Burr Gymnasium.

The Lady Bison (11-11 overall, 8-5 in the MEAC) appeared on their way to another easy win over the Lady Wildcats (4-17 overall, 3-10 in the MEAC) when they expanded a 33-24 halftime lead into a 62-43 bulge with a little over 9 minutes left in the game.

Then Keturah Newkirk began to rain down three pointers from far beyond the arc and bring her team to within 66-61 with 2:27 left. The 5-9 freshman guard from Charleston, SC hit on six of 10 from long distance down the stretch for 21 of her game-high 24 points.

Howard, which had handled the visitors 99-78 in Daytona Beach, Fl in January, found themselves in an unexpected battle.

"Our guards did not do a good job for us tonight," said Howard Coach Cathy Parson. "They turned the ball over; they did not get us into our half court sets; and we took too many threes. But you have to also give Bethune-Cookman credit because they forced us into some mistakes and their player (Newkirk) found her range and hit some big shots."

But down the stretch, it was Benson, who made the big plays when her team needed them. The 6-2 junior forward made two of her career-high 7 blocks, grabbed a couple of rebounds and converted a free throw for good measure as the Lady Bison escaped with their third win in four games to stay in contention for the second seed in the upcoming tournament with five games remaining in the regular season.

"It concerns me that we are not closing out teams like we should this late in the season," admitted Coach Parson. "We definitely have to improve in that area."

Bethune-Cookman, which was playing without All-MEAC performer Katie Clark for the eighth straight game, made the game much more respectable and competitive that some may have expected.

"After the way the first game went against Howard, I thought we hung in there and competed well tonight," said B-CC head coach Francis Simmons, who has lost four key players to injuries during the season. "If we play this way, imagine what it would be with Katie Clark. She is one of the top five players in this conference and she would make a difference in a game like this."

NEXT UP: B-CC travels to Princess Anne, MD on Monday to take on Maryland Eastern Shore at 5:30 p.m. while Howard hosts Florida A&M at 2 p.m. in the second of four straight home contests.

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