WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University's women's basketball team won a tight 65-56 game against Penn St.-Abington in a North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) game Saturday evening in the Field House on Padden Court on Senior Day.

The Bison (12-13, 9-7 NEAC) and Nittany Lions (13-11, 8-8 NEAC) exchanged the lead 13 times and saw eight ties during the game. Gallaudet trailed 41-37 entering the fourth quarter and didn't regain the lead until the 2:33 mark when junior guard Sabina Shysh (Tucson, Ariz.) sank a three-pointer off an assist from senior Lawjen Ashmore (Fairbanks, Alaska). Shysh's third three-pointer gave Gallaudet a 52-49 lead.

Penn St.-Abington began to foul to preserve time and force Gallaudet to win it at the free throw line. Gallaudet made the most of its opportunities, coupled with two technical fouls on the visitors, as the Bison made 13 of 14 attempts (92.8 percent) to close out the game.

Junior guard/forward Hannah Neild (Litchfield, N.H.), one of the leading scorers in NCAA Division III women's basketball, scored a game-high 27 points and added four rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Senior forward Kelsey Hudson (Blissfield, Mich.) grabbed the game-high 25 rebounds to go with six points and two steals. Freshman guard Emelia Beldon (Frederick, Md.) passed out a game-high nine assists along with three steals and seven points. Shysh made a game-high four steals to go with 16 points and five rebounds.

Shayna Rodriguez led the Nittany Lions with 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Rodriguez also scored a last-second three-pointer at the end of the first quarter. Grace Dewey recorded a double-double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and made a game-high four blocks, three steals and two assists in the loss.

BISON TRACKS

• Neild, a transfer from Merrimack College (Division II), recorded her 1,000th career collegiate points midway through the fourth quarter
• She now has 591 points as a Bison and in two seasons scored 415 points at Merrimack
• Junior Kelli Barnes (Cliffside, N.C.) added seven points and seven rebounds off the bench
• Ashmore finished with two points
• GU outrebounded Penn St.-Abington, 57-36
• Gallaudet scored 18 second-chance points
• The Bison scored 14 points in the paint
• GU made 25 of 33 attempts at the free throw line
• The game featured eight ties and 13 lead changes

SENIOR DAY
GU honored its two seniors before the start of the game. These players have dedicated years of their time and effort to the women's basketball program and will be greatly missed.

4 Kelsey Hudson Hudson started in 65 of the 89 games that she has played in during her four-year career. She has tallied 582 points, 798 rebounds, 15 blocks, 113 steals and 97 assists. 

#13 Lawjen Ashmore Ashmore started in 22 of the 60 games that she has played in during her three years with the team. She has tallied 201 points, 228 rebounds, 38 blocks, 66 steals and 46 assists. 

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will host Penn St.-Berks in the NEAC tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Field House on Padden Court. The winner of this quarterfinal game will advance to the NEAC championship weekend (Feb. 24-25) held at the site of the highest remaining seed.