November 19, 2008

Game Notes: Howard at American

Complete Game Notes

Game 2
Howard (0-1) at American (2-0)

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 19
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Place: Bender Arena, Washington, D.C.
Series: American leads 9-7

The Game
The Bison look to get started on the right foot after falling 59-49 to Navy in its home opener on Sunday. Howard was led by Morgan Neal's game-high 15 points. India Bradford chipped in nine points off the bench and Tamaya Daniels led the Bison in rebounds with eight.

HU has little rest and returns to action on Friday with a home non-conference decision against Central Michigan.

American is off to a 2-0 starting after picking up wins over NJIT and Drexel. Sophomore Michelle Kirk leads the squad in scoring in the early season, averaging 14.0 points per game. Redshirt junior Nicole Ryan adds 10.5 points per game.

Howard
Probable Starters

No. 

Name

Pos.   

Cl.   

Ht.

2008-09 Stats

22

Jalisa Pullins

G

So.

5-5

0.0 ppg/1.0 apg

21

Morgan Neal

G/F

Jr.

5-10

15.0 ppg/7.0 rpg

11

Zykia Brown

G

So.

5-8

7.0 ppg/6.0 rpg

3

Natalie Day

G/F

Fr.

6-0

0.0 ppg/2.0 rpg

31

Tamaya Daniels

C

Sr.   

6-2  

5.8 ppg/8.0 rpg

 

American
Probable Starters

No. 

Name

Pos.   

Cl.   

Ht.

2008-09 Stats

2

Talicia Jackson

G

Sr.

5-8

9.0 ppg/6.5 rpg

3

Pam Stanfield

G

Sr.

5-4

6.0ppg/3.0 rpg

5

Michelle Kirk

G/G

So.

6-0

14.0 ppg/3.0 apg

15

Lisa Strack

G

Fr.

5-10

3.0 ppg/3.0 rpg

31

Sahar Nusseibeh

C      

Sr.   

6-2   

4.0 ppg/4.5 rpg

 

Scouting American
The Eagles defeated Drexel, 74-65 in its last time out on Sunday. Michelle Kirk led three players in double figure scoring with 20. Liz Leer added 13 points off the bench and Nicole Ryan contributed 10. Drexel got a game-high from Gabriela Marginean. Kamile Nacickaite finished with 11 while Marginean added eight rebounds on the defensive end.

American is coached by Matt Corkery, who is in his first season at the helm.

Pounding Pavement
Howard opens up its regular season with just three home games before January. HU hosts Navy in its season opener on Nov. 16 before making the cross-town trek to American on Nov. 19. The Bison play host to Central Michigan on Nov. 21 before traveling north to face Robert Morris in the Robert Morris Thanksgiving Classic on November 29-30. Howard will take on the host Highlanders on November 29 before competing in a consolation/championship game on November 30. IUPUI and Wright State are also competing in the two-day tournament.

HU is on the road again at William and Mary on December 4 and takes on conference foe Hampton on December 6. The Bison travel to New York for a match-up at St. John's on December 16 before heading returning home to host George Mason on December 21. Howard wraps up the month of December with a road contest at Monmouth on December 29.

Bison Picked Ninth in the MEAC
The Howard University women's basketball team has been picked to finish ninth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's annual preseason poll, as voted on by the League's Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors. The announcement was made on October 15 in Winston-Salem, N.C. as part of the 2007-08 Tip-Off Media Luncheon. Howard received 92 points in the preseason poll. North Carolina A&T was picked first as the Lady Aggies garnered 18 first-place votes with 468 points. NCAT was followed by Delaware State (378 points) while Morgan State (364 points) rounds out the top three.