Essex, MD - The Howard Community College women's basketball team had their four game win streak snapped Saturday afternoon, after falling to #10 Union College 71-62 on day one of the CCBC Essex Mixer in Essex, MD.

Slow start for the Dragons after falling behind 18-3, with 3:36 left in the first quarter, Dragons own, Lania Nick (Annapolis, MD/Glen Burnie) breaks the 15-0 scoring run for the Owls with a fast break layup passed down the court by Madison Carey (Brandywine, MD/Frederick Douglass). Union College continues to keep a high-intensity offense, and secured a few more quick buckets from the field to finish out the quarter on top. Dragons trailed 24-6 at the end of the first quarter. 

In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Nhaikyia Smith (Waldorf, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) drove through Owl defenders adding two from the field and one from the line. Sydnei Harmon (Largo, MD/C.H. Flowers) pulled down a board on offense giving the Dragons a second chance bucket,and shortened the Dragons deficit to 15. Owls respond with an 11-0 run with 3:29 left in the second, earning their largest lead of the game, putting them ahead by 26 points. Before the end of the half, Dragons were able to put a stop to scoring for the Owls and responded with an 8-0 run to shrink the deficit to 18, but a big response from the Owls with a shot from beyond the arc closes out the second quarter and HCC trails at halftime, 47-25.

Dragons on their feet at the start of the third quarter, after Mikiyah Mallett (Pasadena, MD/Old Mill) grabs two in the paint for an and-one opportunity, but is unsuccesful in adding the extra point. Owls continue to put forth stellar effort on all sides of the ball, and a three-point play brings a surge of energy from their bench. Back-and-forth scoring during the remaining minutes of the third, but the Dragons continue to trail heading into the fourth 62-41.

Three minutes left in the contest and an opportunity to add 3 points to the board is successful, after pass behind the back of an Owls defender by Mallett, opens up a clear path for Smith, shortening the deficit to 11 with 2:06 left to play. A final bucket from Asaani Offer (Annapolis, MD/Catonsville) rolls in and adds two more for the Dragons with under two minutes left to play. Dragons outscored the Owls 21-9 in the fourth, but it wasn't enough to overcome the continuous pressure from the owls down the stretch, resulting in a final score of 71-62.

Mallett led the way for the Dragons with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Sydnei Harmon (Largo, MD/C.H. Flowers) 14 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, and Smith tacks on 11 points, five rebounds, and 6 assists. Lania Nick (Annapolis, MD/Glen Burnie) and Asaani Offer (Annapolis, MD/Catonsville) added six points each to the final score, with Nick pulling down 6 boards and Offer pulling down 5 boards. Jaylah Putman (Jacksonville, FL/Long Reach) added 5 points to the final score, along with grabbing 2 rebounds, while Madison Carey (Brandywine, MD/Frederick Douglass) added 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Howard will close out the final day of the CCBC Essex Mixer, as well as their games in 2023 taking on #13 Harcum College on Sunday, December 17 at 12 PM.