Jan. 3, 2005

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Senior guard Daisha Hicks' 21 points led three Howard players in double figures as the Bison claimed a 61-50 win over Lafayette on Monday in Kirby Sports Center.

Hicks scored seven points in a 17-5 Howard run that covered the final five minutes of the first half and sent the Bison into the locker room with a 35-25 lead they would not relinquish. Lafayette scored the first seven points of the second half to draw within three, 35-32, but the Bison rattled off six of the next seven points to go back in front by eight, 41-33, with 13:18 remaining.

The Leopards (2-8) cut the margin to four, 45-41, on a Maureen Johnson basket with 5:39 left, but Ebony Lacey scored Howard's next seven points on a three-pointer, jumper and pair of free throws as the Bison (6-4) pulled away.

Lafayette led by as many as four on three separate occasions in the early going, the final time being when Lindsay Myers split a pair of foul shots with 10:35 left in the first half.

Hicks' 21 points came on 7-of-17 shooting from the field. She scored 16 in the first half and was held to five foul shots after halftime. Hicks added six assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Also in double figures for Howard were Britanny James and Lacey with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Vanessa Van De Venter just missed her third double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds. She also collected four steals in a season-high 38 minutes of action. Myers played 39 minutes and tallied 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

The Leopards held a 51-35 edge on the boards, but committed 37 turnovers in the loss.

Lafayette is back in action on Wednesday, visiting Yale at 5:30 p.m.