Doyle's Career High Not Enough in Loss to Monmouth
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Freshman Saadia Doyle (Atlanta, Ga./Columbia H.S.) poured in a career and game-high 23 points but it was not enough as Howard fell to Monmouth, 61-50 in the opening round of the Hawk Holiday Classic presented by Staybridge Suites and Hotels.
Doyle added eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals while converting 9-of-9 shots from the charity stripe.
HU, who fell to 3-7 with the loss, was held scoreless from 3-point range (0-7) for the first time this season.
The host Hawks improved to 4-6 with the win and were paced by Alexis Canady's 16 points. Alysha Womack added 15 points.
The short-handed Bison played without the services of Tamoria Holmes (Durham, N.C./Hillside H.S.), India Bradford (Washington, D.C./Archbishop Carroll H.S.) and Julee' O'Neal (Durham, N.C./Hillside H.S.). Holmes re-aggravated a knee injury prior to tip-off and is expected to return in the consolation matchup tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 30). Bradford suffered a season-ending knee injury against Central Michigan while O'Neal is out with strep throat and listed as day-to-day.
Zykia Brown (Riverdale, Md./Parkdale H.S.) had 12 points and DonnaLee Scharschmidt (Palm Beach, Fla/Summit Christian) contributed five points.
Cheyenne Curley-Payne (Chula Vista, Calif./Eastlake H.S.) added three points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 17 minutes off the bench. Curley-Payne missed the previous two games with an ankle injury.
Howard whittled a 21-point deficit down to 10 with just over four minutes left in regulation, but that's the closest they would get. Bison miscues in the final 2:39 yielded six free-throw opportunities for Monmouth and the Hawks held on for the 61-50 win.
HU faces Holy Cross tomorrow in the consolation game of the Hawk Holiday Classic presented by Staybridge Suites and Hotels. Game-time is slated for 2 p.m. at the Multipurpose Activity Center.