Box Score Columbia, MD - Hannah Chambers (Columbia, MD/Hammond) scored the first double-double of the season on Sunday as the Howard Community College Dragons narrowly beat the Richard Bland College Statesmen 63-55.
Chambers' electric play in the paint kept the Dragons out in front all day long, and a late fast break score from
Emmanuella Oga (Randallstown, MD/Randallstown) helped to put away a Richard Bland comeback in the closing minutes. The win moves the Dragons to 2-0 on the season, their first 2-0 start in two years.
The Dragons opened the contest strong, taking an 18-15 lead after the first quarter. Chambers immediately went to work in the paint, dropping six points and five rebounds in the opening period.
London Galbraith (Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy) sank a deep three to give the Dragons a slim three-point advantage over their opponent, but Richard Bland matched the Dragons in rebounds and kept the game within striking distance. In the second, Chambers cooled down to allow fellow starter
Naomi Williams (Odenton, MD/Meade) to go to work. Williams added five points and four boards in the period as she took control of the middle, and five more rebounds off the bench from
Jasmine Dailey (Odenton, MD/Meade) allowed Howard to slowly pull free from the Statesmen. Howard led 35-25 at the half, with Williams nailing a last-second jumper to push the lead to double digits.
The third quarter would see the Dragons extend their lead to nearly 20 points.
Jolie Hamilton (Baltimore, MD/Forest Park) came off the bench and dropped six points on the Statesmen, who were beginning to struggle with turnovers and fouls. Late in the period, Richard Bland started to find a groove, with Nyah Barnwell and Grace Riggs locking down the Dragons starters. Howard's bench, which had dominated the middle stages of the contest, could no longer work around the Statesmen defense, and midway through the fourth, Richard Bland pulled within five.
With four minutes to go, the Statesmen had pulled within single digits, capitalizing on missed shots from the Dragons. The one Dragon they couldn't figure out was
London Galbraith (Washington, D.C./Friendship Collegiate Academy), who hit a massive three to extend the lead, then aced her late free throws to preserve the lead. Chambers snagged a crucial rebound late in the period, and the resulting handoff to
Emmanuella Oga (Randallstown, MD/Randallstown) ended in a fastbreak score that clinched the contest for the Dragons.
Chambers recorded the first double-double of the season with 18 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal. Galbraith's late heroics saw her drop 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals.
Jolie Hamilton (Baltimore, MD/Forest Park) narrowly missed out on a double-double herself, recording eight points, ten rebounds, and two blocks.
Naomi Williams (Odenton, MD/Meade) had her breakout game as a Dragon, recording seven points, nine rebounds, and two steals.
Emmanuella Oga (Randallstown, MD/Randallstown) finished the afternoon with seven points, while
Savannah Price (Woodbridge, VA/Freedom) recorded five points and three assists.
McKenzi Walters (Falls Church, VA/George C. Marshall) led the Dragons on defense with sxi rebounds, two assists, and six steals.
The Dragons next host their first conference game of the season as they face Baltimore City Community College on Wednesday, November 5 at 5:00 PM.
