WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with SUNY Morrisville, the top team in the United East Conference, here Saturday in the Field House on Senior Day.

Gallaudet (8-17, 7-9 United East) led for the majority of the first half before turnovers allowed SUNY Morrisville (18-7, 14-2 United East) to get back into the game. The Mustangs built up a double-digit lead in the third quarter before the Bison trimmed it down to single digits but ran out of time as Morrisville won 65-59.

The Bison jumped out to an early lead behind the shooting and play-making ability of junior guard Rajena Guettler (Frederick, Md.), who scored 10 of Gallaudet's 14 points in the opening quarter where GU led 14-11.

Gallaudet built up a seven-point lead, 20-13, early in the second quarter but six Bison turnovers led to 10 points for the visitors as they went on a 13-2 run and took the lead for good. SUNY Morrisville went into halftime up 29-26.

The Bison got outscored 22-15 in the third quarter before GU rallied in the fourth as it put up 18 points to 14 made by SUNY Morrisville. The Mustangs led by 16 points, 57-41, early in the fourth after back-to-back 3-pointers. GU responded with three straight made baskets and later got the deficit down to seven points, 60-53, with two minutes left in regulation.

Gallaudet freshman guard Olivia Brown (St. Augustine, Fla.) made a layup with 29 seconds to pull the Bison to within five, 62-57. The Mustangs sealed away the game at the free-throw line down the stretch.

Guettler matched a career-high with 22 points and added seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. Junior forward Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) notched her 16th double-double this season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore center Anya Pothorski (Indianapolis, Ind.) came off the bench to score 11 points and snag five boards while Brown netted 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Mustangs had a trio of players in double figures led by Rachel Vieira's 17-point game as she made six steals and passed out four assists.
 
BISON TRACKS

• GU outrebounded SUNY Morrisville, 43-25
• The Bison scored 30 points in the paint
• Gallaudet scored 20 second-chance points off 16 offensive rebounds
• Morrisville scored 29 points off 23 Bison turnovers
• Perry finished the season with a career best 451 points scored, she now has 1,278 career points and ranks 7th all-time in GU history
• This was the last game between these two schools in basketball as members of the United East. SUNY Morrisville is moving to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) next season.
• GU and SUNY Morrisville split the series 8-8 since the 2010-11 season
• Gallaudet was 4-3 in the Field House against SUNY Morrisville
• The Mustangs are the No. 1 seed in the upcoming United East Tournament 

SENIOR DAY
This marked Senior Day for a trio of Bison; forward Serenity Fry (East Los Angeles, Calif.) and team support staff members Ariel Senics (Fishers, Ind.) and Ryane Smalley (Nicholson, Pa.), who were honored during the pregame ceremonies.
 
Fry and Senics were multi-year letterwinners with the women's basketball program. Fry played in 57 games (2019-20, 21-23) and finished her career with 148 points and 118 rebounds. Senics played in 30 games (2019-20, 21-22) and tallied 42 points and 83 rebounds.
 
Senics and Smalley served as Student-Coach Interns during the 2022-23 season for Coach Stephanie Stevens.
 
Earlier this season the Bison recognized a fourth senior in Lexi Hill (Tyler, Texas) on February 4. Hill, a star on the University Debate Team, played two seasons (2019-20, 22-23) and saw action in 22 games and tallied 33 points and 38 rebounds.
 
The Gallaudet Athletics Department also recognized winter cheerleader Gabriella Rodriguez on Senior Day.
 
UP NEXT
This completes the 2022-23 season for the Gallaudet women's basketball program.