Complete Game Notes

Game 25
Howard (12-12, 7-5 MEAC) at Florida A&M (15-8, 7-5 MEAC)

Date: Saturday, February 20
Place: Gaither Gym, Tallahassee, Fla.
Series: Howard leads 17-12

The Game
Howard enters Saturday's contest with a 12-12 (7-5 MEAC) mark. HU defeated Norfolk State, 71-41 on Feb. 15 while Florida A&M (15-8, 7-5 MEAC) took down Maryland Eastern Shore in overtime, 75-67 in its last time out on Wednesday.

Junior Zykia Brown and freshman Saadia Doyle scored 17 points each to pace Howard in the win over NSU. Freshman Cheyenne Curley-Payne added 13 points while classmate Kara Smith chipped in nine. Doyle pulled down 11 rebounds on the defensive end.

Tameka McKelton (30 points), Qiana Donald (11 points) and Antonia Bennett (10 points) paced FAMU in the win over UMES.

Scouting Florida A&M
Florida A&M is 15-8 (7-5 MEAC) and is tied for the fifth with Howard in the MEAC standings. Tameka McKelton is averaging 14.4 points per game while Antonia Bennett and Christian Rateree add 11.1 and 10.1 points per game, respectively. Deidra Jones (8.6 ppg), LaShondra Gaines (8.0 ppg) and Qiana Donald (7.3 ppg) round out the scoring for the Lady Rattlers. Donald is tops on the team with 11.1 rebounds per game.

Florida A&M is coached by LeDawn Gibson, who is in her 2^nd season at FAMU. She has a 14-17 record in one year as a head coach.

Freshman Sensation
Freshman Saadia Doyle (5-11, F) has posted double-doubles in 15 of 23 games this season, a feat that puts her eighth in the NCAA rankings at press time. The Atlanta, Ga. native is averaging 17.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per outing and was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week six times this season. A warrior on the boards, Doyle's 11.0 rebounds per game total ranks 11^th highest in the NCAA. Her 22 rebounds vs. Coppin State is the ninth highest total in the NCAA this season. Doyle also ranks top-70 in the nation in field goal percentage (48.3 FG %, 64^th) and top-80 in points per game (17.0 ppg, T-74^nd). NCAA Stats updated thru Feb. 18.

Get ‘Em Next Year
Newcomers Jerelle Gorham (Durham, N.C./Hillside H.S.) and Cabria Johnson (Upper Marlboro, Md./Elizabeth Seton H.S.) will sit out the 2009-10 season.  Gorham is a 5-8 guard and Johnson is a 5-11 forward.

Weekly Honors
Zykia Brown was named the MEAC Player of the Week on Dec. 14 after posting 23 points and nine rebounds against George Mason. Saadia Doyle was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week six times this season (Dec. 17, Dec. 21, Dec. 30, Jan. 25, Feb. 1 and Feb. 15). Doyle was named the Heritage Sports Radio Network's National Player of the Week on Feb. 3.

Brown Nets 1,000 Points
Zykia Brown joined the 1,000 club in the Bison's win over Norfolk State on Jan. 18. She was the 16^th player in women's basketball history to accomplish that feat.

Curley-Payne Heats Up
Freshman guard Cheyenne Curley-Payne has been getting quality minutes backing up starting point guard Jalisa Pullins. The California native averages 3.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. She leads the team in assists per game and ranks 10^th in the MEAC in the same category. The freshman also ranks 13^th in the league in steals per game.

Current Streaks
Overall: Won 1
Home: Won 1
Away: Lost 1

On Deck
Howard travels to Bethune-Cookman on Monday, Feb. 22. Game time against the Lady Wildcats is slated for 5:30 p.m. at Moore Gymnasium.