Show Me State Tandem: St. Louis natives Theres Davis (r) scored a team-high 15 points, while Brittany Dodson added 12 in Saturday's win over Howard.
Howard 46, Morgan State 56
Bear Shots
BALTIMORE, Md. (Jan. 8, 2011)-The Morgan State women's basketball team began the 2011 half of the season on the right track, as St. Louis natives, Theresa Davis scored a game-high 15 points and Brittany Dodson added 12, to lead Morgan State to a 56-46 victory over visiting Howard in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) contest at Hill Field House on Saturday afternoon.
Moneshia Davis, another native of St. Louis, chipped in with nine points, while Erin Hawkins tallied eight to help the Lady Bears improve to 7-6 overall and 2-0 in MEAC play. The win also ended a two-game losing skid at home.
Howard (3-12, 0-2 MEAC) was led by Saadia Doyle, who recorded her seventh double-double of the season with a game-high 20 points and game-high 10 rebounds. Tamoria Holmes added 11 points for the Lady Bison, who are on a six-game losing skid.
Both teams came out in the first half slow and lethargic and were unable to take control of the game. Theresa Davis, who fell four points shy of matching her career high, provided Morgan's scoring attack, scoring 12 of the Lady Bears' 25 first half points, while Doyle tallied 11 of Howard's 21 first half points.
Morgan State took a 17-11 lead after a basket by T. Davis, but the Lady Bison came back with six straight points, triggered by a basket by Doyle to even up the score. Morgan State would take a 25-21 advantage at the break.
Howard got within 25-23 at the start of the second half, but it would be all Morgan State from there. Hawkins hit two three-pointers in the midst of a 14-4 run by the host Lady Bears to give Morgan a 39-25 lead.
Morgan State matched its largest lead of the game of 15 points (46-31) after two free throws by Dodson with 9:31 to play. But the Lady Bison were not done yet, as they used an 11-2 spurt over the course of the next four minutes to pull within 48-42 after a layup by Jerelle Gorham with 5:28 remaining.
Dodson then hit a three-pointer, which put Morgan State up 51-42 and proved to be the dagger, as the host Lady Bears used an 8-2 run to up the lead back to 12 points at 56-44 with 1:53 to play.
Howard shot 29 percent (18-of-61) from the field, including 2-of-14 (14 percent) from three-point range. The Lady Bison forced 17 Morgan State turnovers and held a 34-29 rebounding advantage over the Lady Bears.
Morgan State finished the game shooting 19-of-38 (50 percent), including 6-of-14 (43 percent) from three-point range. Both teams shot 80 percent from the charity line, with Howard going 8-for-10 and Morgan connecting on 12-of-15.
The Lady Bears return to action on Monday, Jan. 10, when they play host to defending MEAC Tournament champion Hampton. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. at Hill Field House. Howard travels to Coppin State to take on the Eagles on Monday at 5:30 at the PEC.
