The forward, who will celebrate her 27th birthday on Sunday, powered the Light Blues to a vital three points despite a late rally from the Edinburgh side.
And it was a second hat-trick of the campaign for Howat against Hibernian after she took the match ball home in October’s meeting between the two sides at Ibrox.
Speaking to RangersTV and fresh from a national team call-up this morning, Howat commented: “My goals? I can’t really remember too much!
“Being in that midfield position in the first half, arriving on the back of shoulders, is what Jo told me to do.
“The second goal was a bit of play down the right-hand side then I manage to strike across goal, and the third goal was a great piece of play with some backheels within it.
“I’m happy with all three goals and, to be honest, I thought the overall performance was really good, but we’re disappointed that we managed to let them back into it.
“I enjoy playing every team and Hibs play in a way that creates pockets of space because they commit players forward.
“We played some really good football and I’m happy to get on the end of three balls and get my hat-trick tonight.
“My Scotland call-up? I got the email this morning and I’m absolutely delighted to be in the squad. I always relish the opportunity to train with the squad and represent my country.”
The victory keeps Rangers level on points at the summit of the SWPL table heading into Sunday’s league finale at home to Partick Thistle, although Jo Potter’s side will require results elsewhere to go their way or an improbable goal difference swing to be crowned champions for the second time in the club’s history.
However, Howat believes her side must be professional and get the job done against the Jags, urging the attacking unit to show a greater clinical edge when opportunities do arise.
She added: “It’s the same as every other game this season; we need to get three points and see where it takes us.
“We’ll get back in on Friday, reflect on tonight, put things right, and go again on Sunday.
“It was a bit of a strange performance [tonight], to be honest. We had more than enough chances to go and kill the game off before we did, but we didn’t take them which leads to the scare at the end.
“We created a lot of very good opportunities. We spoke about it at half-time and we managed to make the game 3-0 in the second half.
“At that point, you’re thinking it’s quite comfortable and we can see the game out, and perhaps go and get more goals, but it’s been the story of our season in the way we allow teams a chance to get back into it instead of killing teams off.
“However, we got the three points which is all that matters at this stage of the season, and we go into the game on Sunday looking for the win.”