Women's Basketball 2/26/2011 12:00:00 AM

Gallaudet advances to NEAC title game

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Gallaudet University women's basketball team is one step closer to the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) championship with a 53-44 victory Saturday over fourth-seeded SUNYIT (19-8) at the Field House. With the triumph, the Bison (24-2) tied the program record for most wins in a season set in 1998-99.

In their first season in the NEAC, the Buff and Blue have won a share of the regular-season conference title and have advanced through the conference tournament semifinal round with a game to go. With one more win, the top-seeded Bison will clinch both the NEAC championship and the accompanying bid to the NCAA Division III tournament that begins next week. In program history, GU has captured only one conference championship (Chesapeake Women's Athletic Conference in 1989-90) and has made the NCAA tournament only twice. In 20 years as members of the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) the Bison only advanced to two championship games where they lost both. GU hosted in their last appearance during the 1998-99 season.

The contest was close and low scoring through the first half as Gallaudet held a slim three-point lead, 21-18, at the half. Both teams struggled to make baskets through the first 20 minutes; GU hit only nine of their first 29 shots, while SUNYIT sunk only eight of their first 30 tries. While both teams began to heat up in the second half, SUNYIT (19-8) continued to struggle from 3-point range, making only 12.5 percent of their attempts, and finished 2-of-19 for the game. Gallaudet shot 44 percent from the floor in the second half. For the game, the Bison scored 26 points in the paint compared to 18 for the Wildcats.

Senior captains Nukeitra Hayes (Anderson, Ind.) and Easter Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) powered the Bison to victory. Hayes netted 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had four steals in 39 minutes of play, while Faafiti contributed 10 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists in nine fewer minutes. Faafiti was the only player to record a double-double in the game, her 20th this season. Not to be outdone, Hayes energized the 500 fans in attendance by hitting her only 3-point attempt in the game which was also her first made 3-pointer all season. It was a well-rounded team effort for Gallaudet, though, as two other Bison hit double figures. Junior guard Andrea Amati (Frederick, Md.) netted 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting while freshman guard Stephanie Weiss (Wellington, Fla.) added another 10 points, six of which came at the free-throw line. Freshman forward Tandy Lewis (Frederick, Md.) was a force down low as she grabbed nine rebounds.

Guard Taylor Topping, who recorded 15 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes, led SUNYIT. The only other Wildcat to hit double digits was guard Lyndsey Brognano, who added 10 points and five rebounds, before she fouled out late in the contest. Center Tamara Williams contributed nine points and nine rebounds, along with six blocks on the night. SUNYIT made only 4-of-12 free throw attempts on the night, due in large part to the thundering stomps of the Gallaudet faithful.

The Bison will take on second-seed Keuka College (23-2) in the NEAC championship game tomorrow (Sunday, February 27) at 1 p.m. in the Field House. Keuka advanced to the finals with a 71-59 victory over Penn St.-Harrisburg in the other semifinal on Saturday. Gallaudet swept the season series with the Storm.