Bel Air, MD - A six-point second quarter was the difference maker for the Howard Community College Dragons last Friday night, as they fell 57-53 to the Harford Community College Fighting Owls.

The Dragons led by seven after the first, but offensive struggles in the second put the Dragons into a hole they were unable to dig out of. Despite a double-digit scoring night from Naomi Williams (Odenton, MD/Meade), the Dragons came up four points short in their second loss to the Fighting Owls this season.

Eager to avenge their loss to the Fighting Owls in December, Howard opened the contest strong. Williams scored six from the floor and Emmanuella Oga (Randallstown, MD/Randallstown) hit a big three to give the Dragons a 21-14 lead after the first. But in the second, the scoring stopped. Howard's only points came from free throws from Savannah Price (Woodbridge, VA/Freedom) and McKenzi Walters (Falls Church, VA/George C. Marshall), and layups from Jolie Hamilton (Baltimore, MD/Forest Park) and Jasmine Dailey (Odenton, MD/Meade). Harford opened up their offense, closing in to just one point at the half.

Leading 27-26, the Dragons kept the score close in the third. Dailey came alive in the paint, and Price and Laila Stevens (Philadelphia, PA/Lower Merion) both hit threes, but Harford's shooters had come alive themselves. The Fighting Owls finally took their first lead, and led 43-41 entering the third. A second scoring drought from the Dragons ended their hopes, as the Dragons shot 4-20 in the fourth quarter. Despite Williams forcing several tough shots, the Dragons couldn't close the gap and Harford slowly pulled away. A Price three pointer with a minute to go brought the lead down to one, but Harford outscored the Dragons 5-2 in the final minute to give them a 57-53 victory.

Williams finished the evening as the leading scorer for the Dragons with 12 points, six rebounds, and one assist. Dailey came close to a double-double with eight points, ten rebounds, and two assists. McKenzi Walters (Falls Church, VA/George C. Marshall) had her best game of the season, scoring seven points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Oga added seven points, five rebounds, and a steal. Price hit two threes and scored seven points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Hannah Chambers (Columbia, MD/Hammond) added seven rebounds to the total.

The Dragons next face the College of Southern Maryland on the road at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, January 28.