BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 11, 2022)-Led by senior Ja'Niah Henson's game-high 16 points, four Lady Bears would score in double figures, as Morgan State began the 2022-23 campaign with a 78-39 non-conference victory over Shepherd on Monday evening at Hill Field House. The game marked the first meeting between the two schools and served as an exhibition game for Shepherd.
 
Henson would shoot 6-of-11 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from beyond the three-point arc. Freshman Gabrielle Johnson connected on 4-of-7 shooting to finish with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists, while fellow freshman Jael Butler came off the bench to add 12 points. Graduate Taylor Addison finished with 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Despite a slow start, Morgan State (1-0) settled in and broke a 9-9 tie by going on an 18-0 run to take a 27-9 advantage. The hosts would lead 34-23 at the intermission.
 
The Lady Bears began the third quarter on a 10-0 run to increase its cushion to 21 points at 44-23, capped off by a layup from Fatima Black with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Shepherd trailed 50-33 when Morgan State went on a 19-1 run over the next five minutes and 51 seconds to up its advantage to 69-34 with 3:35 left in the contest.
 
Morgan State forced the Rams into 27 turnovers and recorded 14 steals. Henson led the way with a game-high four steals, while Emily Jones and Sedayjha Payne each had three thefts.
 
Peyton Grant led the Rams with 11 points, while Cara Minor pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to go with six points and three assists in the loss.
 
The Lady Bears return to the court on Thursday, Nov. 10, when they welcome local foe Loyola Maryland to Hill Field House for a 5:30 p.m. tip.


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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.