WASHINGTON – A strong second-half performance helped Gallaudet University get back on the winning track here Saturday in the Field House as the Bison defeated Penn St.-Abington, 62-48, in a United East Conference women's basketball contest.
 
The two teams played an even first half as they scored almost identical scores in each quarter as the Nittany Lions held a 21-20 advantage at halftime.
 
In the second half, Gallaudet (7-14, 6-6 United East) used an 11-2 run during a four-minute span in the third quarter to take a 33-31 lead. The Bison increased that margin to 38-33 as the teams went into the fourth and final quarter of play.
 
Penn St.-Abington (6-14, 4-9 United East) trimmed the lead to three points early in the fourth but a technical foul opened the door for the Bison to pull away from the Nittany Lions.
 
Junior forward Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) converted the free throws and made a layup, a minute later, as GU led by double digits. GU later pushed the lead to 14 points, 54-40, on a made jumper by freshman Bree Goldstein (Riverside, Calif.) at the 4:19 mark.
 
Perry finished the game with her 13th double-double of the season with a game-high 22 points, matched a season-high with 16 rebounds, passed out five assists, made four blocks and four steals. Perry was a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.
 
Junior guard Rajena Guettler (Frederick, Md.) added eight points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists. Sophomore forward Hannah Puent (Indianapolis, Ind.) finished with six points and eight rebounds while freshman guard Olivia Brown (St. Augustine, Fla.) recorded seven points and matched Perry with five assists. Junior guard Sunita Schmidjorg (Austin, Texas) and Goldstein tallied seven and six points, respectively.
 
Penn St.-Abington was paced by Angela Sanders' 21 points and 12 rebounds while Camille Fleming finished with 12 points and a game-high 18 boards to go with four steals and three blocks. The Nittany Lions had seven blocked shots in the loss.
 
Prior to the start of the game, the Gallaudet women's basketball program paid tribute to sophomore forward Lexi Hill (Tyler, Texas), who is graduating this year. Hill's family was on hand for the recognition.
 
UP NEXT
Gallaudet continues its homestand on Wednesday, Feb. 8, as the Bison play host to St. Mary's College of Maryland (14-6, 10-2 United East) at 5 p.m.
 
The GU basketball programs along with the Athletic Department are holding a Black History Month event around the doubleheader as there will be different presenters, exhibits, giveaways (t-shirt) and a DJ for everyone's entertainment. All money collected from paid admissions and concessions from that day will be donated to the Gallaudet Black Student Union and African Student Union.


Gallaudet's women's basketball team with Lexi Hill and family pre-game