PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore began the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season at 1-0, with a 73-68 victory at Morgan State. But the Hawks not turn their attention to maintaining that momentum as the Howard Bison (8-6, 1-0 MEAC) visit the William P. Hytche Athletic Center on Monday (Jan. 7) at 5:30 p.m.

Howard owns the all-time series 60-19, but the Hawks have won the last two meetings including an 83-79 win at Burr Gymnasium in February of 2018. Senior point guard Ciani Byrom (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) came up big for the Hawks in that one with 24 points.

Byrom seems to be back to her early career form after spending much of last season working her way back to 100 percent after a serious knee injury derailed her 2016-17 campaign.

She leads the Hawks (5-9, 1-0 MEAC) in scoring with 15.4 points as well as assists (4.2) and minutes per game (34.8). Byrom scored five consecutive points down the stretch at Morgan State on Jan. 5 to help. She has reach double digits in all, but one of the 13 games she has played.

Classmate Keyera Eaton (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is in the middle of a hot streak of six straight games in double digits including games of 24 (Wake Forest) and a career-high 28 (Mount St. Mary's).

Sophomore Bairesha Gill-Miles (Lexington, Kentucky) has four double doubles this season — including the last two games against University of Maryland Baltimore County and Morgan State. She is averaging 9.6 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Howard is led by junior point guard Sarah Edmond who is averaging 16.4 points, 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals. Sophomore guard Jayla Thornton is second on the team in scoring with 13.9 points per game, while Freshman forward Krislyn Marsh is averaging 10.8 points and leads the team in rebounding with 8.1 per game.

Junior starting center Star Fitzgerald-Green (6-foot-3) leads the team in blocks.

Following the gamer versus Howard, the Hawks will host North Carolina Central (Jan. 12) and North Carolina A&T State (Jan. 14).