Complete Game Notes

Game 27
Howard (14-12, 7-5 MEAC) vs. Md. Eastern Shore (15-8, 7-5 MEAC)

Date: Saturday, February 27
Place: Burr Gymnasium, Washington, D.C.
Series: Howard leads 50-13
Live Stats: http://howard.hbculivestats.com/wbball/xlive.htm
Live Audio: http://broadcastmonsters.com/UMES/WBasketball/UMES022710.asx

The Game
With just two games remaining in the regular season, Howard enters Saturday's contest with a 14-12 (9-5 MEAC) mark. The streaking Bison have won its last three decisions and defeated Bethune-Cookman, 59-53 on Feb. 22. Md. Eastern Shore (10-14, 7-7 MEAC) took down Morgan State, 66-64 in its last time out on Monday. It is senior day for the Bison and HU will honor its lone senior, Charae' Baulkman, in pre-game festivities. 

Saadia Doyle and Zykia Brown scored 18 and 17 points respectively to pace Howard in the win over BCU. Cheyenne Curley-Payne added eight points while Doyle pulled down 11 rebounds on the defensive end.

Latoya Buckner (15 points), Casey Morton (14 points) and April McBride (11 points) paced UMES in the win over the MSU.

Scouting Maryland Eastern Shore
Maryland Eastern Shore is 10-14 (7-7 MEAC) and is tied for the sixth with Florida A&M in the MEAC standings. April McBride is averaging 17.9 points per game while Chena Parker and Casey Morton add 9.1 and 8.9 points per game, respectively. McBride is tops on the team with 8.6 rebounds per game.

Maryland Eastern Shore is coached by Fred Batchelor, who is in his 6^th season at UMES. He has a 133-121 record in 11 years as a head coach.

Freshman Sensation
Freshman Saadia Doyle (5-11, F) has posted double-doubles in 17 of 25 games this season, a feat that puts her sixth 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 seven times this season. A warrior on the boards, Doyle's 11.0 rebounds per game total ranks 13^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-90 in the nation in field goal percentage (46.7 FG %, 83^rd) and top-80 in points per game (17.0 ppg, 72^nd). NCAA Stats updated thru Feb. 25.

Twin Towers
Freshmen Nicole Deterville (6-1, F/C) and Portia Deterville (6-1, F/C) are the first set of twins to play under the Coach G era. Nicole and Portia join teammate Amanda Edwards (6-0, F) from Toronto, Canada and are mainstays in the Bison frontcourt. 

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 seven times this season (Dec. 17, Dec. 21, Dec. 30, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22). 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 4.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. She leads the team in assists per game and ranks 11^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 3
Home: Won 1
Away: Won 2

Bison Ink Eight for 2009-10
Howard is one of the youngest squads in the nation with eight freshmen. Cheyenne Curley-Payne, Kara Smith, Cabria Johnson, Jerelle Gorham, Tamoria Holmes, Julee' O'Neal, Portia Deterville and Nicole Deterville were all welcomed to the Mecca this year.

On Deck
Howard travels to Hampton on Thursday, March 4. Game time against the Lady Pirates is slated for 6 p.m. at the Convocation Center.