WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University women's basketball team handed SUNY Polytechnic Institute it first North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) loss Sunday as the Bison won 53-48 in the Field House.

Gallaudet (6-6, 5-3 NEAC), winners of three straight, battled back and forth with SUNY Poly (6-6, 4-1 NEAC), formerly known as SUNYIT, throughout the game. In the second half, the lead changed five times and was tied on three different occasions. Neither team led by more than six points in the closely contested game. The Bison closed out the game with six made free throws as GU shot 17 of 28 from the charity stripe.

The win is a far cry from last year's 84-58 loss that SUNYIT handed Gallaudet on the road.

Junior guard Zamica Gage (Washington, D.C.) led all-scorers with 16 points, eight rebounds, four steals and four assists. Senior forward Lane Peters (Phoenix, Ariz.) recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 14 rebounds while fellow senior Alexa Justus (Forks, Wash.) was the third Bison in double figures with 10 points. Senior forward Elena Ciccarelli (Whitesboro, N.Y.) and junior forward Danielle Morris (St. Louis, Mich.) grabbed eight and seven rebounds, respectively.

SUNY Poly had three players reach double figures led by Geena Gallo's 14 points, five rebounds and three steal performance. Lauren Knowles added 12 points and nine rebounds while Barrie Brooks netted 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench. The Wildcats took a 24-23 lead into halftime.

Gallaudet took its final lead with 8:07 left in regulation when freshman Sabina Shysh (Tucson, Ariz.) scored the first of two baskets in a 26-second span. The Bison increased their lead to six, 43-37, after Morris made two free throws at the 6:59 mark.

The Bison women's basketball team will wrap-up this three-game homestand on Wednesday evening (Jan. 21) when they welcome NEAC foe Wilson College (1-9, 0-7 NEAC) to campus for a 5 p.m. game.