Washington, DC---Victoria Gonzales scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for a double-doluble and Imani Bailey contributed 12 but it was not enough to overcome a slow start and too many turnovers as Florida A&M University pulled away for an easy 64-53 win over Howard University in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's game at Burr Gymnasium. It was Senior Night for four members of the team. 

The Bison (5-22, 3-11 in the MEAC) were able to stay close early, trailing only 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Rattlers (15-12, 9-5 in the MEAC) began to flex, outscoring the hosts by eight to take a 35-24 lead at intermission. 

But it was the third quarter that sealed the fate of Howard, which dropped its fourth straight. Florida A&M took advantage of some cold shooting and turnovers to hold the Bison to seven points in the quarter and take an insurmountable 52-31 lead at the end of three. Khadejra Young and Victoria Nguyen did most of the damage, combining for 13 of their team's 17 points 

Gonzales, the Number 2 scorer in the conference at 20 points per game and Te'Shya Heslip tried to rally the Bison as the Lady Bison outscored the visitors, 22-12. They were able to get within 9 but London Holland and Young knocked down free throws at the end to stave off the rally and put the game away. 

Young led her team 15 points and 11 rebounds while Nguyen added 12 for Florida A&M which forced 25 Howard turnovers and recorded 16 steals. 

The Bison won the rebounding battle, 56-51 but missed `12 of 13 three pointers. Helsip, Gonzales, Bailey and Allease Morrison were all playing their last home games in a Howard uniform. 

NEXT UP: Howard travels to Hampton, VA to take on the Lady Pirates of Hampton on Saturday at 2 pm.