WASHINGTON, D.C. - Junior center Easter Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) scored a career-high 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to record her 13th double-double of the season as Gallaudet University lost a tough Capital Athletic Conference women's basketball game on Monday to the hands of York (Pa.) College, 70-54.

The loss drops Gallaudet (11-11, 6-9 CAC) into seventh-place in the CAC standings with one final conference game set for Wednesday. The Bison along with Hood College have played 15 conference games this season while other teams have played anywhere from 12 to 14 games. GU will need some help to make the six-team CAC tournament that begins next week. York (10-13, 6-8 CAC) moves up to fifth-place and has two final conference games left.

Faafiti was a one-person wrecking crew for the Bison in the second half as she single handily outscored York 10-1 over a three and a half minute stretch. The junior pulled Gallaudet to within 13, 50-37 at the 11:55 mark, after trailing minutes before by as much as 22 points. Faafiti had little help from her teammates as Gallaudet only received five points from the bench and 15 points from the other four starters combined. Faafiti scored eight of the final 13 points scored by GU in the last six minutes of the game. She played in control during the 38 minutes she logged as for the first time this season she didn't commit a personal foul in a game. Her previous season and career-high with Gallaudet came on January 13 when she scored 27 points against Hood College.

York junior April Sparkman led the way for the Spartans as she scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, passed out five assists and even blocked a shot and made two steals. Earlier in the day, she was honored by the CAC with the Women's Basketball Player of the Week award for her efforts from last week. Freshman Cinthia Ruiz (19 points) and freshman Gayle Exley (12 points) were the other Spartans in double figures.

The game was closely played in the first half as the teams swapped leads midway through the opening half. Gallaudet last held a lead at the 8:03 mark before Exley drained a three-pointer that helped York outscore the Bison 17-7 the rest of the half. The Spartans led 34-25 at the break.

Both teams shot well from the field, over 40 percent, but it was York's second half where the Spartans shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from the field that was the difference. York outscored Gallaudet 36-29 over the final 20 minutes of action. York also held a slim rebound margin, 37-35. The Spartans drained seven three-pointers to one by the Bison. Gallaudet had a chance at the free-throw line to keep the game close as the Bison missed 12 attempts from the charity stripe (13-for-25).

Sophomore Lani Murashige (Tucson, Ariz.) made her third straight start, fifth overall this season, and scored six points and grabbed three rebounds as she played the entire game. She was the second leading scorer for the Bison in the loss.

GU will host St. Mary's (Md.) College (7-13, 6-6 CAC) on Wednesday, February 17, at 6 p.m. The Bison are participating in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone campaign on Wednesday night. All fans are encouraged to wear something pink to the game.