North East, MD - #5 Howard Community College Women's Basketball team season comes to an end after falling to the #1 CCBC Essex Knights 47-77, during the semifinals of the NJCAA Region 20 Basketball Tournament. 

After two minutes of scoreless possessions, Howard got on the board first after a free throw from Mikiyah Mallett (Pasadena, MD/Old Mill). But, not far behind were the Knights who cashed in a layup to get the ball rolling. Mallett found herself at the line again after a driving play in the paint, adding two from the line, but the Knights once more answered with a jumper, before going on a 9-0 run with 3:17 left in the first quarter. Madison Carey (Brandywine, MD/Frederick Douglass) and Jaylah Putman (Jacksonville, FL/Long Reach) added a couple of shots on the inside, but not enough to tie the game. The Dragons entered the quarter break with 16-9 disadvantage. 

The Knights opened up scoring in the second frame, but Putman followed up from beyond the arc with a three-pointer to bring Howard within six. An added free throw pushed the Knights advantage to seven, but a fast break jumper for Carey brought the Dragons within five. However, the Dragons could not maintain their momentum after a number of turnovers opened up a number of scoring opportunities for CCBC Essex. Howard entered into halftime trailing 26-15. Howard did a fantastic job of keeping the Knights, who average almost 90 points a game, in close range in the second quarter as the defense held Essex to just 10 points, shooting at 21% from the field 0.0% from three point-range. 

Coming out of the break, Putman continuing to show up for the Dragons on the inside and from three-point range to keep the Dragons in close quarters with Essex. Zakiyyah Brown (Upper Marlboro, MD/Friendship Collegiate Academy) and Mallett find success at the rim to add a few points on the scoreboard, but a technical foul on Howard sends puts the Knights' at the line for four made free-throws, with 2:43 left in the quarter. Howard tried to rally back with a number of looks in the paint, but unable to take control and trailed 43-29 heading into the final frame. Carey able to muster up some energy in the fourth quarter to take a final stand for the Dragons, sinks a three-pointer to break a 4-0 run for Essex. Asaani Offer (Annapolis, MD/Catonsville) and Nhaikyia Smith (Waldorf, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) also able to score on a few open looks as well, but unable to fully chip away at the deficit. Howard slowly ran out of energy in the remaining minutes of the final frame, after a few late whistles sent the Knights to the line, and Essex continued to pull further ahead and ultimately secure their place in the Region 20 Championship game.

Mallett earned a double-double, finishing with 17 points and a season high of 15 rebounds. Asaani Offer (Annapolis, MD/Catonsville) scored 15 points and 7 rebounds. Madison Carey (Brandywine, MD/Frederick Douglass) added 12 points and 7 rebounds, while Putman scored 10 points and also added 7 rebounds. Smith added five points and seven assists, and Brown added three points. 

Although the Howard Community College Women's Basketball team season has come to an end, the 2023-2024 season is one that will go down in History. The Dragons finished 16-8 overall and 8-4 in the conference. The Dragons will have to say goodbye to an incredible and unforgettable sophomore class including Mallett, Smith, Carey, and Sydnei Harmon (Largo, MD/C.H. Flowers).