December 15, 2012

Written by Ariel V. Germain, Assistant Sports Information Director 

Game Notes: Howard at George Washington

Game Tracker / Video

WASHINGTON, D.C. (www.howard-bison.com) – With four consecutive wins and 11 days of rest and practice, the Howard University women's basketball team is set and ready for its Saturday, Dec. 15 matchup against cross-town foes George Washington at 2:00 p.m. in the Charles E. Smith Center on the GW campus. 

HU is currently 4-4 overall, 1-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, 3-0 at home and 1-4 on the road. 

The Lady Bison travel 16 blocks through Northwest to battle the Colonials, who are 4-5 on the season after their 69-59 loss to Auburn on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at GWU.

The mighty blue and white's fourth consecutive win came in Dover, Del., as HU defeated conference foes Delaware State 54-40. 

Howard attained a season-best 74 percent outing from the free-throw line, while senior Saadia Doyle notched her third double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds.  Along with Doyle's double-double, senior Cheyenne Curley-Payne was a perfect 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, while finishing with eight points and six assists.  Fellow senior Kara Smith scored nine points, as redshirt junior Jerrelle Gorham attained eight points.

Collectively, HU went 42 percent from the field, 29 percent from and 74 percent from the free-throw line.

Lady Bison Bites

• Niki Reid Geckeler is in her fourth season as head coach

• Finished second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

• Fell 59-56 OT to Virginia during the WNIT in 2012

• Howard meets George Washington for the first time since the 2003-04, where GW defeated HU 55-80 on Dec. 16

• HU takes on cross-town foe on four-game win streak, after defeating Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent Delaware State on Monday, Dec. 3 in Dover, Del.

• Saadia Doyle tallied her third double-double with 24 points and 10 points

• Cheyenne Curley-Payne was a perfect 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, while finishing with eight points and six assists

• Kara Smith scored nine points

• Jerrelle Gorham attained eight points

• Collectively, HU went 42 percent from the field, 29 percent from and 74 percent from the free-throw line

• On the season, the Lady Bison average 56.1 points per game, 35 percent from the field, 30 percent from the long range, and 60 percent from the free-throw line 

Probable Starters

No.	Name	Ht.	Yr.	Pos.	MPG	PPG
5	Cheyenne Curley-Payne	5-8	Sr.	G	35.2	9.8
10	Jerrelle Gorham	5-8	R-Jr.	G	31.6	7.0
13	Saadia Doyle	5-10	Sr.	G	34.8	22.9
32	Nicole Deterville	6-0	Sr.	F	21.6	1.8
44	Kara Smith	6-0	Sr.	F	33.8	9.5

Primary Reserves

No.	Name	Ht.	Yr.	Pos.	MPG	PPG
14	Cabria Johnson	6-0	R-Jr.	F	12.3	3.0
24	Imani Bailey	5-9	Fr.	G	14.8	2.1
34	Portia Deterville	6-0	Sr.	F	14.5	0.5

Scouting George Washington

• Jonathan Tsipis is in his first season at George Washington

• The Colonials are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference

• GW is 4-5 on the season and 2-2 at home and 2-3 on the road

• George Washington fell 69-59 to Auburn on Wednesday, Dec. 12 in Washington, D.C.

• Shi-Heria Shipp attained a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds

• The Colonials average 56.8 ppg., while going 36 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and 61 percent from the free-throw line

Seeing Double

Lady Bison standout begun her double-double performances, on the season Doyle has:

• 21 points and 10 rebounds (DePaul)

• 12 points and 11 rebounds (Northwestern)

• 24 points and 10 rebounds (Delaware State)

Consecutive Honors for Doyle

Saadia Doyle was name Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.  The honor was announced on Thursday, Nov. 1.

What Have You Heard about the Herd

Along with Doyle's accolades, the Lady Bison were predicted to finish first in the MEAC this 2012-13 season.

Major News

Among 340 mid-major Division I institutions in the country, the Lady Bison ranked 12th above Richmond (Atlantic 10), Harvard (Ivy) and Central Michigan (Mid-American) on the preseason list.

For more information on Lady Bison Basketball or for up-to-date scores and statistics, visit the official website of Howard Athletics at www.howard-bison.com.

-HU-