Game 29
No. 4 Howard (15-13) vs. No. 5 Florida A&M (18-10)

MEAC Quarterfinals
Date: Thursday, March 11
Place: LJVM Coliseum, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Series: Howard leads 19-12

The Game
The No. 4 Howard women's basketball team will open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament play on Thursday (March 11) at 2:30 p.m. against No. 5 Florida A&M at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Bison earned a bye into the quarterfinals with its 4^th place seeding.

Howard won both games between the two teams during the regular season. HU defeated FAMU 69-68 in overtime on Jan. 23 at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C., and then won 49-48 on Feb. 20 in Tallahassee, Fla.

The winner of the game will advance to the semifinals to meet eighth-seeded South Carolina State on Friday (March 12) at noon.

Scouting Florida A&M
Florida A&M is 18-10 and ended the regular season on a three-game win streak. Tameka McKelton is averaging 14.8 points per game while Antonia Bennett and Deidra Jones add 11.9 and 9.2 points per game, respectively. Christian Rateree (8.7 ppg), Qiana Donald (7.7 ppg) and LaShonda Gaines (7.6 ppg) round out the scoring for the Lady Rattlers. Donald is tops on the team with 10.8 rebounds per game.

Florida A&M is coached by LeDawn Gibson, who is in her second season with Florida A&M. She has a 14-17 record in one year as a head coach.

MEAC Postseason Honors
Zykia Brown was named First Team All-MEAC while Saadia Doyle was named Second Team All-MEAC and Rookie of the Year while earning a spot on the MEAC All-Rookie team. Brown was ranked top-10 in the league in 3-pt. field goals made, free-throw percentage and steals per game while recording 20-plus scoring games nine times this season. Doyle led the conference in rebounding and is ranked among the top ten in seven different statistical categories.

Freshman Sensation
Freshman Saadia Doyle (5-11, F) has posted double-doubles in 19 of 27 games this season, a feat that puts her sixth in the NCAA rankings at press time. The Atlanta, Ga. native is averaging 16.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per outing and was named the MEAC Rookie of the Week eight times this season. A warrior on the boards, Doyle’s 10.9 rebounds per game total ranks 15^th highest in the NCAA. Her 22 rebounds vs. Coppin State is the 10^th highest total in the NCAA this season. Doyle was named MEAC Rookie of the Year on March 4. NCAA Stats updated thru March 7.

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.

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 eight times this season (Dec. 17, Dec. 21, Dec. 30, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 15, Feb. 22 and March 1). Doyle was named the Heritage Sports Radio Network’s National Player of the Week on Feb. 3.

Curley-Payne Heats Up
Freshman guard Cheyenne Curley-Payne has been getting quality minutes despite playing with an ankle injury. The California native averages 4.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She ranks 11^th in the MEAC in assists per game and 13^th in the league in steals per game.