WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Howard Lady Bison used a dominant second-quarter surge to overwhelm the visiting South Carolina State Bulldogs and secure an 85-66 victory in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Burr Gymnasium.

The game, a rematch of a tightly contested four-point Howard win just over a month prior, followed a different script. While the first quarter was competitive, with Howard holding a 17-13 lead, the Lady Bison unleashed a devastating 32-point second period that effectively decided the contest. Howard outscored South Carolina State 32-11 in the frame, fueled by efficient shooting and capitalizing on Bulldog mistakes, to take a commanding 49-24 lead into halftime.

Howard’s offensive execution was clinical. The Lady Bison shot 53.3% from the field for the game and an impressive 52.6% from three-point range. They also dominated the glass, particularly on the offensive end, where their 14 rebounds led to numerous second-chance opportunities and contributed to a significant advantage in possessions. Howard’s offensive rating of 115.5 points per 100 possessions starkly contrasted with South Carolina State’s 91.4, underscoring the efficiency gap.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably Howard’s second-quarter explosion. The period saw the Lady Bison shoot a blistering 12-of-19 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. They turned a four-point lead after ten minutes into a 25-point halftime cushion, a run from which the Bulldogs could not recover. Key plays during this stretch included consecutive three-pointers from Destiny Bynum-Johnson and Dally Moreno, followed by a transition jumper from Jada Kendrick, which typified Howard’s ability to score in bunches and convert South Carolina State turnovers into easy points.

Zennia Thomas, a 6-foot-2 forward from Cleveland, Ohio, led Howard with 20 points and nine rebounds in just 22 minutes, demonstrating her impact on both ends of the floor. Guard Ariella Henigan of Chicago added 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and a block. The Lady Bison’s balance was evident as five players scored at least seven points.

South Carolina State, which fell to 5-17 overall, was led by a gritty performance from guard Lemyiah Harris of Anniston, Alabama. Harris played 39 minutes and scored a game-high 23 points. Shaunice Reed of Seattle contributed 16 points. The Bulldogs showed resilience in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter where they outscored Howard 26-17, but the first-half deficit was far too large to overcome. The Bulldogs struggled with Howard’s size and defensive pressure, committing 20 turnovers which the Lady Bison converted into 22 points.

Howard, which improved to 17-7, solidified its position in the MEAC with the victory. The win was in line with statistical projections that heavily favored the Lady Bison at home. The teams had split their season series, with each winning on their home court.

South Carolina State looks to rebound on Thursday, Feb. 12, when it hosts Coppin State. Howard continues its conference schedule on the same day, traveling to face Delaware State.