BALTIMORE (Interstat) — A surging Howard squad looks to continue its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference momentum against a struggling Coppin State team when the women’s basketball programs meet Thursday night.

The Howard Lady Bison (13-7, 3-1 MEAC) visit the Coppin State Eagles (4-16, 2-2) at the Coppin State Physical Education Complex. Howard has won three of its last four, including a 69-61 road victory at North Carolina Central last Saturday. Coppin State is coming off a 90-48 non-conference loss to South Carolina this past Sunday.

Howard’s success has been fueled by guard Zennia Thomas, who is averaging 14.4 points over her last five games. She scored 17 points in 29 minutes against North Carolina Central and posted a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double in a win at South Carolina State on Jan. 3.

Coppin State will counter with guard Khila Morris, its leading scorer during conference play. Morris is averaging 17.4 points over her last five outings, including a 26-point, 13-rebound performance in a narrow win at Delaware State and a 20-point effort against South Carolina’s top-ranked defense.

The matchup presents a stark contrast in season trajectories. Howard has found consistency, with notable non-conference wins over Saint Bonaventure and Cincinnati. Coppin State has faced a brutal schedule, with losses to power-conference opponents Georgia and Temple, and has struggled to find scoring beyond Morris.

Howard won both meetings last season by an average of 23 points. The Lady Bison’s defensive pressure, which forces an average of 18 turnovers per game, will challenge an Eagles offense averaging just 56.8 points.

Thursday’s contest is the first of a regular-season series split between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., with the return game at Howard scheduled for Feb. 26.

Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. EST as Howard aims to solidify its standing near the top of the MEAC while Coppin State seeks a pivotal home upset to climb back to .500 in conference play.