Columbia, MD - In a battle of two teams that came into the game with a 7-1 record, it was the #10 ranked CCBC Essex Knights who came away with a 104-83 win over the Dragons.
The Knights jumped out to an early 18-7 lead, but Howard crawled back late as
Tyteana Seymore (Washington, D.C./Columbia Heights) made a hoop and harm three point play then
Brianna Jones (Largo, MD/Largo) scored on back-to-back layups with the latter also adding a free throw to it as Howard cut the Knights' lead to just four after the first quarter.
The Dragons continued the momentum into the second quarter as a
Mia McCormick (Philadelphia, PA/River Hill) splash from long range gave Howard their first lead at 24-23. Jones made another layup in response to an Essex basket to give the Dragons another chance to enjoy the lead, but that would be the last time as Essex started to pull away late in the second quarter and took a 10 point lead into halftime.
Howard gave it one more strong run early in the third quarter as they went on a 9-0 run highlighted by an
Ashlyn McInerney (Hyattsville, MD/Hammond) three pointer to make it just a four point deficit. Once again the Knights had an answer as they took off with a 17-0 run midway through the third quarter that decimated Howard's hopes at an upset in a 41 point quarter for the visitors.
Jones was spectacular again with 27 points and 16 rebounds as she continues to be the driving force for the Dragons this season.
Kyrstin Bowen (Westminster, MD/Mount Airy Christian) scored 15 points with five blocks followed by McCormick with 13 and McInerney with 12. Seymore score nine points before leaving the game after an injury in the second quarter.
The Dragons will get to enjoy the Thanksgiving break before returning to action on Wednesday, December 4 at 5 PM as they take on another conference foe in Prince George's.
