Lady Bison

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — February 4th, 2003

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Lady Bison

The Lady Bison are back at .500 with a win over the UMES Hawks (6-11 Overall, 3-5 MEAC) 90-76 Thursday night. 

 

The Bison were lead by Courtney Kirk who had a game high of 20-points. Simone Agee [14-points] and Daisha Hicks [15-points] also contributed for Howard. 

 

The Bison outscored the Hawks 26-41 in the first half and continued to roll by building a 23-point led in the second half.

 

"We are always going to score a lot of points. That's our style of play," said Coach Cathy Parson. 

 

The Bison did, but they allowed the Hawks to score big as well. 

 

In the second half, the Hawks outscored the Bison 50-49 and were able to pull within nine points with 2:29 left to play. 

 

The key was turnovers. 

 

In the first half, the Bison and the Hawks turned the ball over 41 times.

 

The Bison showed a full court press that seemed to frustrate the Hawks. Their double-teaming in the paint caused several jump balls that resulted in the Lady Bison gaining possession. 

 

In the second half, the turnover situation continued. 

 

The Bison turned the ball over 34 times and the Hawks capitalized by scoring 17-ponts off turnovers.

 

"There were a large number of turnovers from the point guards and other key players. They were unforced turnovers because UMES was not pressing," Coach Parson said. 

 

Petty and Hicks turned the ball over a combined 12 times. 

 

Coach Parson said that Shauna Ruglass had a great game. She ended the night with a double-double, scoring 16-points and grabbing 10 boards. However, she turned the ball over 6 times. 

 

Turnovers were not the Lady Bison's only problem. 

 

The main factor for the Hawks cutting the Bison lead was the defense down the stretch. The fast pace game they showed the Hawks in the beginning of the second half slowed down. 

 

"Psychologically, we got to a point of comfort," Coach Parson said.

 

The Hawks chipped away at the lead by going on short spurts. They scored seven unanswered points with 3:56 to go.

 

The Hawks main contribution didn't come from their starting five, they scored 34-points off the bench.

 

Guard Octavia Thompson was a big factor in the Hawks attempt to comeback. 

 

Thompson came of the bench and scored 12 of her 17-points in the second half. 

 

She camped behind the three-point line and the Hawks passed and found Thompson open behind the arch, shooting 5-8 from 3-point territory. 

 

Her shooting wasn't enough as the Bison held the Hawks scoreless in the last two minutes of the game. 

 

"We need to clean up our game. We're not fully mature and need to stay healthy," Coach Parson said.  

They look to maintain their success against Norfolk State, February 8, and Hampton, February 10, on the road.