WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Gallaudet University women's basketball team picked up its first win of the season in its home opener Monday night at the Field House as they knocked off Christendom College behind solid performances on both ends of the floor. The tenacious Bison defense held Christendom in-check as the Crusaders managed just 13 points in both halves as Gallaudet cruised to a 72-26 victory.

Junior Easter Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) and freshman Shaquana McDonough (Pembroke, Mass.) led the defensive effort for the Bison as they each registered six steals. Nine players recorded steals for the Bison which led to 41 points at the opposite end of the court.

In addition to the points created off turnovers, the Bison offense fed off of the defensive energy en route to an offensive explosion. After they settled in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, the Bison went on a 24-3 run that spanned nearly 10 minutes, paced by eight of McDonough's (six rebounds) game-high 21 points off the bench as the Bison took a 37-13 lead into the break.

Gallaudet opened the second half on a 22-2 run to extend their lead to 59-17 and effectively put the game out reach. Along with McDonough, Faafiti added 17 points and nine rebounds and senior Brittainy Payne (Pine Hill, N.J.) recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds and chipped in a game-high four blocks.

The Crusaders were led offensively by junior Mary Kate VanderWoude who reached double figures with 10 points and added two steals and a block.  

The 46-point victory is the largest for GU coach Kevin Cook, now in his third year at the helm, since a 51-point win over Wilson College on November 21, 2008.

Gallaudet will next host its annual Holiday Tournament this weekend as the Bison welcome Goucher College, Penn State-Altoona and Penn State-York to the Field House for the two-day tournament. The Bison will go up against Penn State-Altoona on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. Four games will be played on both days between the men's and women's programs.