WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The Gallaudet University women's basketball team dropped a 53-48 decision here Friday night to Penn College in a United East Conference game inside the Bardo Gym.

Gallaudet (3-13, 2-5 United East) took a brief lead to begin the game before Penn College (4-11, 3-3 United East) used a 15-2 run to take a 21-9 late in the first. The Wildcats increased its margin to 14 points in the second as the host took a 35-23 lead into halftime.

The Bison got back into the game in the third quarter as the buff and blue outscored Penn College, 11-4, in the 10-minute stanza and only trailed 39-34 heading into the fourth. 

Gallaudet got the lead down to three points, 41-38, on a layup made by freshman guard Olivia Brown (St. Augustine, Fla.) at the 7:26 mark. Sophomore forward Hannah Puent (Indianapolis, Ind.) made two free throws and a layup as Gallaudet took a 42-41 lead with 5:43 left in regulation. The Bison added one more free throw to go up two, 43-41, with 4:41 left before the Wildcats regained the lead on a Kayleigh Miller 3-pointer at 4:20. That sparked a 12-5 run to end the game with Penn College in the win column.

Junior guard Rajena Guettler (Frederick, Md.) led the Bison with 14 points while fellow junior Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) was limited to 13 points and 12 rebounds. Perry made a game-high six blocks down low and added five assists and four steals. Puent finished with seven points, 11 boards, two blocks, two assists and two steals in 25 minutes played. Brown tallied eight points and four rebounds. 

Penn College had three players in double figures as the Wildcats made eight 3-pointers. The duo of Rachel Teats and Lexi Troup made three 3-pointers each and finished with 13 points apiece. Teats completed the double-double with 11 boards and made two blocks. Miller made the other two 3-pointers and completed the game with 12 points off the bench. 

UP NEXT
GU will travel down to Penn St.-Berks (1-11, 1-5 United East) to play another conference game tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 21) at 1 p.m.