WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University controlled the first half of Saturday's non-conference women's basketball game at the DuFour Center against Catholic University of America but lost the lead in the second half as the host Cardinals won 71-47.

Gallaudet (5-6) took its first lead of the game, 7-6, at the 3:48 mark in the first quarter when junior Hannah Neild (Litchfield, N.H.) made a layup. GU went on a 11-3 run during the final five minutes of the opening quarter as the Bison led 13-9 after the first 10 minutes of play.

The Bison took their largest lead in the second quarter when freshman Emelia Beldon (Frederick, Md.) made a jump shot at the 5:34 mark to give Gallaudet a 21-15 lead. Catholic (5-1) went on a 8-2 run to close out the quarter and take a 24-23 lead into the locker room.

Catholic outscored the Bison 47-24 in the second half and used a 14-0 run, during a four-minute span in the fourth quarter, to put the game away. The Cardinals had three scorers in double figures led by Payton Smith's 17 points.

Neild scored a game-high 25 points as she made 9 of 17 shots from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, to go with 12 rebounds, six steals and three blocks. This is Neild's second double-double of the season.

Junior forward Kelli Barnes (Hope Mills, N.C.) was second on the team with a season-high 14 points. Beldon led the team with six assists while Neild led the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks.

BISON TRACKS

• Neild has scored 22 or more points in five games this season
• GU outrebounded Catholic by five, 40-35
• The five blocked shots are a season-high for GU this season
• Gallaudet made at least five 3-pointers for the fifth time this season
• The Bison shot 42.9 percent from the field (18 of 42)
• CUA scored 37 points off 42 Bison turnovers
• The 42 turnovers are the most by GU since it made 52 on Dec. 3, 2008, vs. Marymount (Va.)
• The Cardinals held a 36-20 edge in points in the paint
• CUA received 17 points from its bench
• The game featured two lead changes and two ties

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will host St. Mary's College of Maryland (2-6) tomorrow (Sunday, Dec. 17) at noon in a non-conference game in the Field House.