PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — The Howard Lady Bison opened their season with a decisive 68-56 victory over the Providence Friars in a non-conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Dunkin’ Center.

Howard, the visiting team, used a balanced scoring attack and a stifling defensive effort to secure the win, overcoming statistical projections that heavily favored the Friars. The Lady Bison methodically built their lead throughout the contest, outscoring Providence in every quarter. They led 14-13 after the first period, extended it to a 31-26 advantage at halftime, and pulled away further to lead 50-39 heading into the final quarter.

The game was ultimately decided by Howard’s dominance on the boards and Providence’s offensive struggles, particularly from beyond the arc. The Lady Bison out-rebounded the Friars 13-7 on the offensive glass, leading to critical second-chance opportunities. Providence’s shooting was cold all night, managing to convert only 2 of its 19 attempts from three-point range.

Zennia Thomas led the way for Howard with a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds, also contributing three blocks in a strong all-around performance. She was supported by April Edwards, who came off the bench to score 11 points and dish out three assists. Sa’lah Hemingway and Zoe Stewart added eight and six points, respectively, with Hemingway also grabbing four rebounds.

For Providence, Sabou Gueye was a bright spot, scoring a game-high 16 points. Payton Dunbar finished with 12 points and four assists, while Teneisia Brown chipped in eight points and six rebounds. However, the Friars were plagued by 19 turnovers, which Howard converted into key points.

Defensively, Howard was active, recording eight steals and six blocks. Destiny Bynum-Johnson was a force in the paint for the Lady Bison, matching Thomas with two blocks.

The loss marks a disappointing start for Providence, which was projected by Interstat’s ELO system to have an 80.10 percent probability of winning the contest. The announced attendance at the Dunkin’ Center was 512.

With the win, Howard begins its season 1-0 and will look to build on the momentum when it hosts Florida A&M on Saturday. Providence falls to 0-1 and will seek its first win when it hosts Central Connecticut next Monday.