STEVENSON, Md. - The Gallaudet University women's basketball achieved yet another milestone this season as they reached double digit wins for the first time in 11 seasons Wednesday evening as they were able to fend off a last minute comeback to defeat Capital Athletic Conference opponent Stevenson University, 58-55, at the Student Union Gymnasium. The victory also ends Gallaudet's three-game losing streak.

Gallaudet (10-7, 5-5 CAC) used a strong first half performance on both ends of the floor and staved off a late comeback effort to defeat Stevenson (5-12, 3-7 CAC) and sweep the season series. The Bison currently sit in fourth-place in the CAC standings while the Mustangs fall to eighth.

With the win, Gallaudet secured its 19th 10+ win season in program history and first under head coach Kevin Cook. It is also the seventh 10+ win season for the Bison since they joined the Capital Athletic Conference back in 1990-91. The last Bison team to accomplish this feat was the 1999-2000 squad when they finished with a 14-12 record. 

The women's basketball team is the oldest established women's sport at Gallaudet as play began back in 1896. The team did not begin to play conventional 5-on-5 basketball games until 1970. The Bison recorded their first 10+ win season in 1974.

The front court duo of juniors Easter Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) and Nukeitra Hayes (Anderson, Ind.) paced the offensive charge for the Bison in the first half as they poured in 10 points apiece and were a combined 8-for-9 from the field.

Freshman Ann Whited (Fishers, Ind.) also found her stroke early from behind the three-point line as she knocked down two of three attempts to help the Bison build a 10-point lead at halftime, 33-23.

Faafiti, Hayes and Whited cooled off a bit in the second half as the Mustangs tightened up on defense and were able to find a rhythm offensively to climb back into the game.

Stevenson fought back to tie the game twice midway through the second half but freshman Shaquana McDonough (Pembroke, Mass.) never let the Mustangs build a lead as two of McDonough's four field goals in the second half reclaimed the lead for the Bison. Faafiti propelled the Bison into the lead for the final time with a lay-up with 5:33 left as GU held on for the victory.

Both Faafiti and Hayes recorded double-doubles in the victory. Faafiti finished with a game-high 19 points, 16 rebounds and five steals. Hayes (two blocks) recorded her first double-double of the season as she finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Whited and McDonough (three assists) also reached double figures for the Bison as they recorded 14 points and 12 points, respectively. GU outrebounded Stevenson by 18, 48-30.

The Mustangs relied on the three-ball to keep them in the game as junior JaQuelia Conley and freshman Vanessa Rice were on fire throughout the game. Conley was 5-for-10 and Rice was 4-for-6 from behind the three-point arc for Stevenson in the loss.

Gallaudet will return home this Saturday, January 30, to take on first-place University of Mary Washington (14-3, 9-0 CAC), who is undefeated in conference play, at 2 p.m. in the Field House. The Bison lost a defensive battle against the Eagles back on January 9, 45-36.