ARLINGTON, Va. - The opportunity to knock off a nationally ranked team was there for Gallaudet University's women's basketball team on Tuesday evening as the Bison went up against No. 19 Marymount (Va.) University on the road. It was the first game for the Saints this season as Marymount entered without the services of its preseason All-American senior forward Kathleen Brown.

The game featured nine ties and 11 different lead changes as the Bison held a six-point lead midway through the first half, a one-point lead at halftime and a two-point lead with eight minutes to go in the game. Marymount battled back and took the Capital Athletic Conference opener as the Saints escaped with a 68-59 victory at the Verizon Sports Arena.

Gallaudet (0-2, 0-1 CAC) went up four, 47-43, midway through the second half when junior transfer Easter Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) made a lay-up. The Bison clung to a two-point lead before the Saints went on a 23-12 run in the final eight minutes of play en route to the win.

Faafiti paced the Bison with 19 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. She netted 13 of her team-high 19 points in the first half. Freshman Shaquana McDonough (Pembroke, Mass.) was right behind with 18 points and five rebounds. Faafiti and McDonough played the entire game (40 minutes) for the Bison. Freshman Ann Whited (Fishers, Ind.) came off the bench to score 10 points, seven in the first half. Whited and freshman Mari Klassen (British Columbia, Canada) joined the Bison tonight after a successful fall season on the volleyball team.

GU led 34-33 at halftime as the Bison shot 48 percent from the field. Marymount outrebounded Gallaudet by three, 35-32, in the game. The Saints outscored the Bison 35-25 in the second half even though GU shot nearly two percent better from the field (43.4% to 41.8%).

Marymount (1-0, 1-0 CAC) was led by Amanda Billy's 28 points, four rebounds and three steals while teammates Terell White added 20 points and Maame Amponsah grabbed 15 rebounds (11 defensive).

The Bison are off until Monday, November 23, when GU welcomes Christendom College to the Field House for a 6 p.m. game.