WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Gallaudet University women's basketball team succeeded in its quest for the first conference win since the 2004-05 season before the Bison depart the Capital Athletic Conference at the end of the school year. Gallaudet hung on to defeat visiting Stevenson University 57-51 on Wednesday evening before an excited crowd of 300 at the Field House.

"This was a great team win," said GU coach Kevin Cook, now in his third year at the helm. "We fought hard as a team to earn this victory for the program and University."

The win snaps a streak of 63 consecutive regular-season conference losses for the Buff and Blue. The streak increases to 66 if you count the CAC tournament losses over the years. Gallaudet's last conference win came on Valentine's Day when the Bison defeated St. Mary's (Md.) College, 65-61, on February 14, 2005 in Washington, D.C. The victory is the first against Stevenson, formerly known as Villa Julie College, in the last eight meetings.

Junior Easter Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) bounced back from an injury to lead the Bison (3-3, 1-1 CAC) with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Faafiti was one of three Bison to net double figures in points as fellow junior Nukeitra Hayes (Anderson, Ind.) and freshman Ann Whited (Fishers, Ind.) scored 10 points apiece.

Stevenson (1-5, 0-1 CAC) cut the Gallaudet lead to four, 53-49, with two minutes left as JaQuelia Conley scored three of her 10 points. The Bison iced the game with four consecutive free throws in the waning seconds.

Gallaudet's largest lead of the night came in under eight minutes to play as the Bison took advantage of six straight missed shots by Stevenson as GU went on an 8-0 run to take an 11-point lead, 45-34. The run began when Faafiti made a lay-up and was fouled. Her free throw attempt missed by junior Brittainy Payne (Pine Hill, N.J.), the CAC Co-Player of the Week, grabbed the rebound and scored on the put back. Faafiti and Hayes scored two baskets to cap the run for the Buff and Blue.

GU shot 42.9 percent from the field (18-for-42) and were a solid 67.9 percent (19-for-28) from the free-throw line. The game was fairly evenly matched as both teams had seven assists and five blocks while the Bison outrebounded the Mustangs by one, 35-34. Stevenson was held to 33.9 percent shooting from the field (19-for-56).

The Bison led for the majority of the first half before the Mustangs closed on a 12-4 run in the final seven minutes to take a 25-22 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Gallaudet quickly regained the lead when Whited drained a three-pointer to give the Bison a 27-26 lead with 18:19 left in the game. GU led the rest of the way as Whited and fellow freshman Shaquana McDonough (Pembroke, Mass.) played the entire game as the pair logged 40 minutes and Faafiti played for 39 minutes.

Stevenson's leading scorer was Amanda Craig as she scored 13 points, grabbed four rebounds and made three steals in 40 minutes of play.

GU is leaving the CAC after this season to join the North Eastern Athletic Conference.

Gallaudet is off for a week as the Bison will next travel to York, Pa., on Wednesday, December 9, to face CAC foe York (Pa.) College (3-3, 0-0 CAC) at 6 p.m.