Box Score Columbia, MD - The first out-of-conference game of the season did not go Howard Community College's way on Saturday, as the Dragons fell to Essex County College 55-44.

Despite fighting back from a first half deficit to take a fourth quarter lead, the Dragons were undone by foul trouble. 26 total personal fouls and two key members of the offense fouling out doomed the Dragons in their comeback attempt.

The Dragons would take an early lead in the first off a deep three-pointer by Tamir Whittle (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake). A Nicole Forbes (Reston, VA/South Lakes) off-the-bench jumper kept the score close at 6-5, but the Wolverines began to pull away. Howard struggled to find the net, shooting 2-15 from the floor during the first quarter.

Trailing 17-9 after one period, the Dragons went on a run to start the second, Spearheaded by a three from Kayden Jeselskis (Baltimore, MD/Rosedale Christian Academy) and a tough layup by Asaani Offer (Annapolis, MD/Catonsville), the Dragons closed the gap to four points. Both teams struggled to find the net as the game evolved into a defensive battle. Both teams combined for 16 total points in the second, with Essex holding a slim 24-18 lead at the half.

Howard finally found their groove in the third quarter, outscoring the Wolverines 14-7. The defense kept Essex County's offense in the single-digits, while the offense finally opened up. Three straight layups by Nicole Forbes (Reston, VA/South Lakes) gave the Dragons their first lead since the first quarter, and they would enter the fourth up 32-31.

Mariah Ruth's (Lancaster, PA/McCaskey) layup one minute into the fourth quarter gave the Dragons a three-point lead, their largest of the afternoon. After both teams exchanged jumpers, Essex retook the lead 38-37. Asaani Offer's (Annapolis, MD/Catonsville) layup kept the Dragons in the contest just as foul trouble began to strike. The Dragons committed eight personal fouls in the final two minutes, with both Offer and Hannah Chambers (Columbia, MD/Hammond) fouling out. Essex County's Mia Marie Thomas was automatic at the line, hitting 14 of her 18 free throws. Eleven of those came in the fourth quarter as the Dragons went from a one-point lead to an eleven-point loss.

Nicole Forbes (Reston, VA/South Lakes) was the leading scorer for the Dragons, netting 15 points off the bench, four rebounds, and two steals. Offer scored nine points, three rebounds, and two assists. Tamir Whittle (Columbia, MD/Wilde Lake) added six points and four assists, while Hannah Chambers (Columbia, MD/Hammond) gobbled up six rebounds and two blocks. Kayden Jeselskis (Baltimore, MD/Rosedale Christian Academy) hit two threes for six points and three rebounds, while Dye Boiro Balde (Girona, Spain/IES Vallvera) led the team in rebounds off the bench with eight.

The loss drops the Dragons to 1-1. They next head to Christendom College on Saturday, November 23.