WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The Howard Lady Bison delivered a commanding performance on their home court Saturday, overwhelming the Florida A&M Lady Rattlers 89-53 in a non-conference women’s basketball game at Burr Gymnasium.

From the opening tip, Howard established a dominant presence, outscoring Florida A&M 25-13 in the first quarter and never looking back. The Lady Bison exploded for 32 points in the third quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach and improving their season record to 2-0. The Lady Rattlers, meanwhile, fell to 0-2 with the loss in front of an announced crowd of 1,582.

The game was defined by Howard’s stifling defense and efficient offense. The Lady Bison forced 25 Florida A&M turnovers, converting them into numerous easy scoring opportunities. Howard also recorded 19 steals and eight blocked shots, consistently disrupting the Lady Rattlers’ offensive flow.

Offensively, Howard was a model of efficiency. The team scored 89 points on just 85 possessions, resulting in an impressive offensive rating of 104.7. They shot 45.7 percent from the floor, connecting on 32 of 70 attempts, and were particularly effective from beyond the arc, making 8 of 19 three-pointers for a 42.1 percent success rate. Howard also capitalized on their free throw opportunities, converting 17 of 21 from the line.

Florida A&M struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm. The Lady Rattlers posted an offensive rating of just 59.8, scoring 53 points from 89 possessions. They shot a frigid 29.9 percent from the field, making only 20 of 67 shots. While they hit eight three-pointers, it took 28 attempts to do so. Their struggles were compounded at the free throw line, where they made just 5 of 14 attempts.

Howard’s Nile Miller, a 6-foot-1 forward from Woodbury, New Jersey, anchored the team’s effort with a strong all-around performance. In 23 minutes of action, Miller stuffed the stat sheet with 7 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor.

For Florida A&M, a bright spot came from guard Aina Subirats of Barcelona, Spain. In just 13 minutes off the bench, the 5-foot-8 Subirats provided a spark, scoring a team-high 12 points and adding three rebounds and an assist.

Howard also received a key contribution from Sa’lah Hemingway. The 6-foot guard from San Bernardino, California, tallied 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block in 17 minutes of play.

The statistical disparity between the two teams was stark. Howard won the battle on the glass, securing 15 offensive rebounds to Florida A&M’s 10. The Lady Bison also shared the ball effectively, dishing out 19 assists compared to the Lady Rattlers’ 10. Howard’s 19 steals nearly doubled Florida A&M’s total of 10.

The game was the second of the season for both teams. Florida A&M was coming off a lopsided 112-39 road loss to Florida State on Nov. 3. Howard entered the contest with momentum from a 68-56 road victory over Providence on Nov. 4.

Looking ahead, Howard faces a quick turnaround with a road game against George Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Florida A&M’s next contest is not until Friday, Nov. 21, when they travel to face UCF.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Howard entered the game as an overwhelming favorite with a 96.60 percent probability to win, a projection they fulfilled with a comprehensive victory that showcased their depth and defensive intensity.