WASHINGTON, D.C. - University of Mary Washington sent Gallaudet University to the free-throw line 35 times, a season-high, on Monday evening at the Field House but the Bison women's basketball team missed 15 attempts as the Eagles escaped with a 57-44 victory to remain undefeated and in first-place of the Capital Athletic Conference.

Gallaudet (10-8, 5-6 CAC) was in the game throughout against a taller and deeper Mary Washington (15-3, 10-0 CAC) squad that is receiving votes in the national coaches' poll. The Bison have lost four of the past five games, three straight at home, and are tied with St. Mary's (Md.) College for fourth-place in the conference.

Junior center Easter Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) was beleaguered by fouls throughout the game. She picked up three fouls in the first half and eventually fouled out with six minutes left in the game. This is the fourth time this season she has fouled out of a game and the first since a nine-point loss, 45-36, on the road against Mary Washington back on January 9. She finished the game with a game-high 20 points and grabbed five rebounds and made two steals. This is the sixth time Faafiti has netted 20 or more points in a game this season.

With Faafiti on the bench Mary Washington went to work in the first half and took its first lead, 15-14, at the seven-minute mark on a lay-up by Jena McRae (seven points). The Eagles went on a 16-5 run to close out the opening half as UMW led 27-19 at the break.

Gallaudet only had three players register points in the first half as Faafiti led the way with 10 and fellow junior center Nukeitra Hayes (Anderson, Ind.) scored seven of her 13 points. She also added a game-high 12 rebounds and made two blocks. Sophomore guard Andrea Amati (Frederick, Md.) had the other two points for the Bison in the first half. UMW began the game with two straight baskets (four points) before Gallaudet went on a 9-0 run over the next five minutes.

In the second half, Gallaudet cut the Mary Washington lead to three, 39-36, on two free throws made by Faafiti with 10:42 left in regulation. This was as close as the Bison would get to the Eagles as minutes later Faafiti was whistled for her fifth and final foul with six minutes to play. UMW led 43-38 when Faafiti left and promptly went on a 14-6 run to end the game. The six points for the Bison came from free throws as GU only attempted three shots in the final five minutes of play. Freshman Shaquana McDonough (Pembroke, Mass.) was held scoreless until she made two free throws with four minutes to play as the Bison trailed by five, 46-41.

Mary Washington outscored Gallaudet 30-11 in the two extended stretches of the game when Faafiti sat with three fouls and eventually with five. The Eagles outrebounded the Bison by five, 42-37, knocked down 18 second chance points and received 18 points from its bench. Gallaudet committed 26 turnovers that led to 27 Eagle points, nearly 50 percent of their final score. There were no ties or three-point field goals made in the game. UMW was 0-for-16 from three-point range in the game.

Sophomore guard Katie Wimmer scored eight of her team-high 12 points in the second half, as she and freshman Carol Dye (10 points, 10 rebounds) were the only Eagles to reach double figures. UMW received points from nine different players in the win.

Gallaudet will next travel to Salisbury, Md., to face Salisbury University (7-11, 4-6 CAC) on Wednesday, February 3, at 6 p.m. for another conference game. GU defeated Salisbury 69-68 at home back on January 6.