Playing without high-scoring Marcia Gaskins, previously unbeaten Northeast could offer little resistance against No. 15 Howard yesterday as the Lions routed the Eagles, 70-43, in an opening-round game of the Liberty Belle Tournament at Liberty High.
Gaskins, averaging 22 points a game, went to Texas for the holidays.
Kristen Briggs finished with 12 points to lead Northeast (5-1).
Northeast and Liberty will play in the consolation round at 1 p.m.
Howard will meet Magruder of Montgomery County in today's girls championship game at 5 p.m.
Magruder defeated host Liberty, 30-27, yesterday in a matchup of 0-6 teams in the other opening-round game.
Howard's Mona Jackson became only the third girls player in the 42-year history of Howard High to reach the 1,000-point mark, scoring 23 points to lead the Lions (4-2).
Northeast's Jen Johansen, who had been averaging 25 points, was held to 11 yesterday by some tight man-to-man defense by Rebecca Powell.