Norfolk, Va. – Janay Turner's tying 3-point attempt came up short in the game's final seconds as NSU fell on the road to Howard, 71-67. Camille Downs led the Spartans with 19 points, with Mahoganie Williams adding 14 points and six rebounds.
 
The result marked NSU's first loss in conference play this season. The Spartans (10-8, 6-1 MEAC) remain in sole possession of first place in the conference standings, half a game ahead of the Bison (12-8, 6-2 MEAC).
 
Howard drew first blood with an inside basket from Kaniyah Harris. It took nearly three minutes for the Spartans to get on the scoreboard, with Downs' layup ending the drought.
 
Crystal White and Turner both knocked down 3-pointers late in the first quarter, but the Bison maintained a four-point edge at the end of the period, with free-throw shooting playing a role in that. The Spartans converted 3-of-6 attempts at the line in the first quarter, while Howard shot a perfect 6-of-6.
 
Howard controlled the momentum early in the second quarter as multiple Spartans got into foul trouble. Four NSU players – Downs, Williams, Turner, and Niya Fields – went into halftime with three personal fouls. Howard's Destiny Howell boosted the Bison to a 10-point lead, making multiple tough shots with fouls or tall contests. She also converted a pair of free throws after the NSU bench was assessed a technical foul.
 
Williams started the Spartans' comeback by knocking down a 3-pointer, just her fourth of the season, to bring NSU back within single digits. Williams added two more baskets soon after, one from an offensive rebound. Lacee Savage gave her team some additional momentum going into the half, scoring inside with a foul in the final five seconds, cutting Howard's edge to 32-29.
 
NSU got within two quickly in the third quarter, but Harris knocked down a 3-pointer to add some extra cushion to the Bison lead. But the Spartans heated up offensively for the last six minutes of the period, including 10 points by Downs alone. Downs scored NSU's last six points of the quarter, putting them ahead by five heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Both teams traded blows throughout the fourth quarter, with NSU maintaining a small lead for the majority. Brooklyn Fort-Davis converted an and-one opportunity for Howard, and the Anzhane Hutton repeatedly earned trips to the free throw line to keep the Spartans from pulling away.
 
Deja Francis soared through the air for a crafty layup to tie the game at 60 with under three minutes remaining, but Harris responded with another triple to put Howard ahead. Francis scored again the next trip down to cut the lead to one before Hutton scored again in the paint for the Bison.
 
Down by four with under 15 seconds remaining, Downs drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and made two out of the three ensuing free throws. Hutton missed one of her two free throws at the other end, giving NSU one last chance to force overtime trailing by three with 10 seconds remains.
 
The Spartans passed the ball around the 3-point arc before Turner was forced to take a deep, contested shot with the clock running out. The miss went out of bounds, leaving the Spartans under a second to foul. Hutton made one of two free throws to end any hope of an NSU miracle, as the Bison bench poured onto the court to celebrate.
 
The loss ended the Spartans' six-game winning streak, and the Bison's 71 points are the most the team has allowed since a 76-47 loss to Old Dominion nearly two months ago. The Bison shot 41 free throws, the most Howard has taken in a game this season.
 
NSU doesn't have much time to mull over the loss, returning to Echols Hall on Saturday for a rematch with Maryland Eastern Shore at 4 p.m. The Spartans won 53-48 at MDES on Monday evening.