WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Howard Lady Bison used a dominant second quarter and a near-perfect performance from the free-throw line to pull away from the Saint Bonaventure Bonnies for a 76-64 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at Burr Gymnasium.

The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies, with Howard capitalizing on its opportunities at the charity stripe while Saint Bonaventure struggled to convert its own. The Lady Bison shot 23 of 25 from the free-throw line, a blistering 92 percent. The Bonnies, conversely, made just 6 of 13 attempts, leaving crucial points unclaimed in a tightly contested matchup for long stretches.

Howard improved to 10-5 overall, while Saint Bonaventure fell to 9-4.

The contest was closely fought through the opening period, ending in a 15-15 deadlock. The turning point arrived in the second quarter, where Howard outscored Saint Bonaventure 23-17 to establish a 38-32 halftime lead. The Lady Bison maintained control throughout the third, extending their advantage, and sealed the win with a 17-9 edge in the final frame.

Howard’s victory was anchored by the standout performances of guard Ariella Henigan and forward Zennia Thomas. Henigan, a Chicago native, led all scorers with 19 points, adding four assists and a block in 26 minutes. She was instrumental in the second-half push and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Thomas, from Cleveland, provided a formidable inside presence, scoring 22 points and grabbing multiple offensive rebounds in 33 minutes of action.

Saint Bonaventure was led by Aaliyah Parker of Cheektowaga, New York, who scored 17 points and dished out three assists. Laycee Drake contributed eight points and four assists, while Brianna Barr-Buday provided a spark off the bench with eight points in just 11 minutes.

Despite the loss, the Bonnies were competitive in several statistical categories. They outshot Howard from the field, making 27 of 63 attempts compared to Howard’s 24 of 54. Saint Bonaventure also held advantages in assists (12-7), steals (12-7), points in the paint (36-28), and points off turnovers (17-14). However, the staggering disparity in free-throw accuracy proved insurmountable.

The most critical sequence of the game occurred early in the fourth quarter with Howard leading 62-59. After a Saint Bonaventure turnover, Howard’ Destiny Bynum-Johnson sank a three-pointer to extend the lead to six. On the ensuing Bonnies possession, a technical foul was called on the Saint Bonaventure bench. Henigan calmly sank both technical free throws, and after Howard retained possession, she was fouled and hit two more, capping a personal 4-0 run in seconds. That swift, seven-point swing, pushing the lead to 68-59 with 7:09 remaining, effectively stifled Saint Bonaventure’s final rally attempt.

Howard’s offensive rating of 112.0 on 68 possessions underscored its efficient scoring afternoon, while Saint Bonaventure’s 92.5 rating on 69 trips reflected its struggles to finish possessions, particularly at the line.

The Lady Bison will next travel to face Army on Monday, Dec. 29. The Bonnies return home to host George Washington on Wednesday, Dec. 31.