WASHINGTON - The Gallaudet University women's basketball team dropped its season opener here Monday night to Goucher College, 62-58, in a non-conference game in the Field House.

Gallaudet (0-1) jumped out to an early 14-7 lead after the first quarter of play and carried a 27-19 lead into halftime. The Bison's largest lead grew to 12 points late in the second quarter.

Goucher (1-0) changed the game in the third quarter as the Gophers outscored the Bison, 24-10. The Gophers' largest lead came in the third when they led by nine points, 38-29, with 3:28 left.

Goucher scored 23 points off 25 turnovers committed by the Bison. Goucher was led by Alayna McFadden and Anise Williams who scored 28 and 27 points, respectively.

The two teams played even in the fourth quarter but Gallaudet couldn't regain the lead. The Bison closed the gap to two points, one point and tied the game at 54-54 with 3:12 left in regulation but that was as close as they got.

Gallaudet was led by junior guards Jakkisha Smith (Dallas, Texas) and Emelia Beldon (Frederick, Md.) as the pair scored 13 and 12 points, respectively. Smith added five rebounds, four steals and two blocks while Beldon grabbed five boards, passed out three assists and made three steals. Junior guard Kendall Hudson (Blissfield, Mich.) netted nine points, seven rebounds and three steals. Freshman guard Rajena Guettler (Frederick, Md.) added six points, seven rebounds and two steals in the loss.

BISON TRACKS

• Freshman Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) scored nine points, grabbed eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block off the bench
• Freshman Sunita Schmidjorg (Austin, Texas) came off the bench to record nine points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal
• The Bison scored 16 second-chance points after they grabbed 18 offensive rebounds
• Gallaudet had 12 fast break points
• Goucher held a slight edge with points in the paint, 32-30
• Gallaudet's bench scored 18 points
• GU led for 22:28 minutes

UP NEXT
Gallaudet is off a week before it will host Trinity Washington University next Monday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m.