WASHINGTON - A promising start for the Gallaudet University women's basketball team against a pesky Cardinals squad from The Catholic University of America turned into a runaway 72-36 win for the visitors here Wednesday night in the Field House.

Gallaudet (0-8) hung tough with Catholic (8-1) in the first quarter as the Bison shot 44.4 percent from the field (4-for-9) and outrebounded the Cardinals, 10-7. The Bison even led for two minutes to begin the game before Catholic took a 17-10 lead into the second quarter.

The next 10 minutes saw the Bison turn the ball over 17 times as the Cardinals pressured and swarmed the GU players in the backcourt. Catholic scored 24 points off the 17 turnovers and recorded 14 fast-break points in transition. The Cardinals scored 24 of their 28 points in the paint as the visitors took a 45-19 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Catholic picked up where it left off but the Cardinals dug deep into their bench as 16 total players saw time. The Cardinals got 22 points from their bench in the second half while GU continued to struggle holding onto the ball. Gallaudet finished the game with a season-high 50 turnovers which led to 49 points. The Bison scored 24 of their 36 points in the paint.

Junior forward Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) led the Bison with 14 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Sophomore center Anya Pothorski (Indianapolis, Ind.) finished with 11 points and three blocks. Sophomore forward Hannah Puent (Indianapolis, Ind.) made her first start of the season and finished with a career-high 10 rebounds to go with four points, three assists and a team best three steals. 

Catholic was led by forward Rachel Bussanich, who finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three steals. Kaleigh Beirne tallied 14 points off the bench in 19 minutes played.  

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will close out its three-game homestand on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. against Trinity Washington University.