WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the second straight game, the Howard University women's basketball team fought back from a halftime deficit to clinch a 64-57 win over Vermont on Friday afternoon in Burr Gymnasium.

With the triumph, the Bison move up to 4-8 overall while the Catamounts fall to 3-9.

For the first time this season, redshirt junior Erin Blaine led the team in scoring with 15 points. She combined it with seven rebounds and went 6-for-8 at the free throw line.

Senior Jasmine Hill chipped in 13 points, five assists and four boards. Rookie Imani Bryant grabbed seven rebounds to go along with nine points, four steals and two blocks.

Today's game was the first time this season that redshirt senior Te'Shya Heslip did not reach double figures in scoring as she finished the afternoon with seven points, six rebounds, six steals and five assists. Senior Sydni Johnson and freshman Jayla Myles had six points apiece.

Howard tallied 15 assists on 23 baskets and scored 20 points off of Vermont's 21 turnovers. The Bison crowded the paint to outscore the Catamounts, 32-22. HU also posted 17 second chance points and 14 points off fast breaks.

The Bison were plagued by a slow start as the Catamounts opened the game on a 7-0 run. After shaking off the cobwebs, Howard responded with an 11-2 run to take its first lead of the game, 11-9, with 2:10 on the clock. Heslip and Johnson combined for seven of HU's points during the stretch.

The two teams went back and forth to get the second period underway, which had the Bison holding onto an 18-16 edge. Howard was outscored by UVM, 13-4, over the rest of the quarter to head into the locker room down, 29-22.

Howard came out of halftime energized, scoring the first nine points of the third quarter for a 31-29 lead, the first since 7:01 of the second quarter. The Catamounts struggled to find its offense as the Bison forced five turnovers and limited them to one basket for the first 6:55 as HU built a five-point advantage, 38-33. Not to be deterred, UVM clawed its way back to tie the game at 39 but the Bison ended the quarter up 42-39 thanks to a jumper by junior Tajzhane Dopson.

UVM made it a one-point game, 45-44, just 48 seconds into the final quarter. Although the Catamounts got close, the Bison amped up the pressure on both sides of the ball for a 14-6 run to pull ahead, 59-50, with 2:52 on the clock. Howard took its largest lead of the game, 63-53, on a free throw by Hill with one minute remaining. UVM tried to slow the action down by fouling but the Bison held on for the win, 64-57.

Hanna Crymble paced the Catamounts with a game-high 17 points and three blocks. Kylie Butler added 12 points and five assists to the mix.

Howard will kick off Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) action on Wednesday, Jan. 4 when it faces Florida A&M at 5 p.m. in Burr Gymnasium.