CATONSVILLE, MD - The Howard Dragons played great defense once again, but were unable to overcome shooting woes as they fell to the CCBC Catonsville Cardinals by the score of 49-39 in the regular season finale. With the loss, the Dragons fall to 15-7 overall for the season and 10-4 in regional play as they will go into the tournament as the #5 seed.

Nhaikyia Smith (Waldorf, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) started the game out great for the Dragons with a three pointer on the first possession of the game, which would prove to be the only lead for Howard. Smith would go on to hit a jump shot late in the first quarter as the only made field goals for the Dragons in the first quarter as they trailed 19-6 after the opening 10 minutes. Jaylah Putman (Jacksonville, FL/Long Reach) started her hot shooting in the second quarter as she made a couple of three pointers, but the Dragons still trailed 27-15 at halftime. 

Madison Carey (Brandywine, MD/Frederick Douglass) started the third quarter well with a tough layup followed by a three pointer as the Dragons started to claw their way back into the game. Down by 14 in the fourth quarter, Mikiyah Mallett (Pasadena, MD/Old Mill) was able to take a Carey dish to score in the paint. Putman made baskets on three straight possessions including a couple of three pointers as the Dragons went on a 10-0 run to pull the game to a five point deficit with 2:30 remaining on the clock. Unfortunately that would be the last points the Dragons would score as they would ultimately fall to the Cardinals.

The Dragons are locked into the #5 seed for the Region 20 Division II tournament where they will likely travel to Montgomery College on Tuesday, March 5 with a time TBD.