La Plata, MD - The Dragons soared back into the win column, defeating the College of Southern Maryland Hawks 60-46. Still atop the Region 20 standings, the Dragons currently hold the second place spot behind the Cardinals with a 14-5 record on the season. 

The game tipped off with the Dragons holding a narrow 13-10 lead after the first quarter. Howard's offensive rhythm continue to improve heading into the second fueled by steals that made way for a number of scoring opportunities.Mikiyah Mallett (Pasadena, MD/Old Mill) dominated the paint, while Madison Carey (Brandywine, MD/Frederick Douglass) dropped off a three-pointer off a pass from Mallett, extending the Dragons' lead to 22-13 with just over four minutes left in the half. Relentless on defense, the Dragons crashed the boards and found a way to turn a number of defensive plays into points. Nhaikyia Smith (Waldorf, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) added another basket before the buzzer, sending the Dragons into halftime with a comfortable 26-19 advantage.

Carey wasted no time in the third, draining another three-pointer early on. Mallett continued to find open looks, and a wide-open Jaylah Putman (Jacksonville, FL/Long Reach) joined her team on offense with a long-range shot. Dragons continued to take advantage of the momentum they've created, and widened their gap with the Hawks. A final response from Smith with a clutch three of her own as the quarter ended, putting the Dragons up 54-33 heading into the final period. The Hawks did their best to chip away at the deficit within the final quarter, but Dragons remained in control. Dragons able to maintain their offensive dominance and secured the victory over the Hawks, with a final score of 60-46.

A short turnaround for Howard, as they head down to Baltimore, MD, where they will face the NJCAA-ranked #5 CCBC Essex Knights on Saturday, February 17th. The knights are 14-6 on the season and currentlyhold fifth place in the region with a 9-0 conference record. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 PM.