Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Bethune-Cookman battled back from a two-set deficit to force a fifth set against the three-time defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions, but host Howard held on for a 3-2 (25-13,25-17,18-25,18-25,15-7) victory Sunday afternoon.

Jordan Jefferson had 14 kills and 14 digs, while Sterling Williamson added 12 as the Lady Wildcats (11-13) settled for a split of their MEAC crossover trip after beating Coppin State 3-0 behind 13 Williamson kills for their first road victory of the season on Friday.

Howard (13-9) dominated the first two sets, but Bethune-Cookman used a 5-1 run to pull away from a 16-16 tie to take a 21-17 lead. Jefferson sealed the set with kills on the final two points.

In the fourth set, Williamson gave B-CU an early 7-3 lead it expanded to 21-10 on a Delaine Fulton kill.

Setter J'nai Higgins finished with 27 assists and nine digs, while Shayla Eugene had 10 digs. Meraiah Hill posted four kills and seven blocks.

Against Coppin State on Friday, the Lady Wildcats registered 17 team blocks and held Coppin State to .009 hitting, matching the lowest hitting percentage for an opponent this season.

Faith Landreneaux, Kortney Curtis and Hill each had six blocks  in the match.

Bethune-Cookman returns home for a key MEAC South Division homestand this weekend, hosting North Carolina Central Friday and North Carolina A&T Sunday.