WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard women's basketball put up a tough fight in Burr Gymnasium but dropped a 70-63 decision to University of Illinois-Chicago on Monday night.

For the eighth game this season, redshirt senior Te'Shya Heslip led the Bison in scoring on a game-best 19 points. She paired it with seven steals, six assists and four rebounds.

Freshman Imani Bryant crashed the boards as she recorded 17 rebounds, 12 of which were on the offensive end, a career-high. It was her third time pulling down double figures in rebounds.

Senior Sydni Johnson posted 13 points, including a trio from downtown, along with seven boards, while redshirt junior Erin Blaine notched 12 points.

It was a challenging shooting night for the Bison, who were 30.6 percent (22-72) from the floor. However, the team got it done at the charity stripe by making 13 of 17 attempts for a 76.5 percent clip.

Howard (2-8) scored 27 points off 26 turnovers by UIC (3-7) and outrebounded the visitors, 48-40. The Bison also tallied 14 assists on 22 baskets.

Howard had trouble finding its shot in the opening quarter. Senior Jasmine Hill and rookie Ayonna Williams both connected from long range to give the Bison a 6-5 edge. The Flames quickly turned the tables by going on a 13-2 run, putting the Bison down 18-8. Heslip tried to put HU back in the game with back-to-back layups but the squad still trailed 18-12.

The Bison battled back early in the second quarter as they managed to tie the game at 23 on a three-pointer by Johnson. UIC responded with seven straight points for a 30-23 advantage. Howard scored the finals points of the quarter on a jumper and pair of free throws from Bryant to go into the locker room down 30-27.

Four minutes into second half, Johnson and Williams got together again from beyond the arc to put Howard in front, 37-35. The Flames regained control on six unanswered points to end the third quarter up 48-42.

UIC took its largest lead of the game, 60-49, with 4:59 left on the clock. Howard cut the deficit to eight, 66-58, on layup from Blaine and free throw by Johnson but it wasn't enough in the end as the Bison fell, 70-63.

The Flames had four players in double figures, paced by Taylor Toney with 18 points. Brittany Byrd finished the night with 16 points and Melita Emanuel-Carr had 12. Tyra Carlsten-Handberg added 11 points and eight rebounds.

Howard heads back on the road to face Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m.