UDC Women’s Basketball Defeats Crosstown Rivals Bowie State 58-53

WASHINGTON, DC- Halia Ellis knocked down four threes to lead the Firebirds to a 58-53 victory over Bowie State, Saturday afternoon at the UDC Gym. The Firebirds improved their record to 5-3, with an undefeated 3-0 stint at home, while the Bulldogs dropped to 2-3 on the season. This win also marked the first time since the 2012-13 season that UDC has defeated Bowie.

Ellis went 4-6 from behind the arc and 8-10 from the field to register a game-high 20 points, marking her fifth double-figure scoring game on the early season. Destiny Ryles came off the bench to register13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Latavia Jackson rounded out the double-figure scoring stint for the firebirds contributing 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Bowie opened the game with an 11-10 edge over UDC in the first quarter, taking the lead three minutes into the second. A lay-up by Kensley Benjamin would bring the game to a tie before the Firebirds rallied to a 13-7 scoring run, with Jackson leading the way with six.

UDC came out the half to increase their six-point lead to as much as 14, following a three-point jumper by Ellis with 4:35 remaining in the third quarter. Bowie would put up the first two points of the last quarter with 8:44 to go, after a layup from Katerra Myers. Ronnasia Blatch-Huggins answered with a layup of her own, but the Firebirds would go into a scoring drought over the next four minutes of play with their score stuck at 45 while watching the Bulldogs take a four-point lead.

The turnaround came for the Firebirds after Ryles ended the drought driving to the basket for two, which was followed up with a jumper by Jackson to even out the score 49-49. UDC went on to pull away and secure their seven-point victory over the visiting Bowie.

UDC (5-3, 1-0 ECC) takes their two-game winning streak into another home matchup on Tuesday, facing off against Lincoln (P.a) at 5:00 pm.