WASHINGTON – Gallaudet University and Stockton University went back-and-forth in a highly contested women's basketball game here Wednesday on Padden Court in the Field House. The two teams exchanged leads and knotted the game several times as each team jockeyed for the lead.

Gallaudet only led for seven minutes in the game, which included the final minute, as the Bison pulled off a 72-66 victory over the Ospreys (7-5).

The Bison (7-6) used a pivotal 11-0 run in the fourth quarter to go from down eight points to up three, 62-59, in a span of four minutes. Stockton's 59-51 lead at the 8:52 mark in the fourth quarter was the largest lead of the game.

The lead exchanged hands five times during the final four minutes of play.

First-year forward Cam Lexow (Abington, Pa.) scored five points, three from the free-throw line, in the final minute to help secure the win for GU.

The Bison outscored the Ospreys 21-8 in the fourth quarter.

Senior forward Cassidy Perry (Frederick, Md.) turned in a 25-point performance to go with five steals, all game-high marks. Perry added eight rebounds, three assists and one block in 32 minutes of play before fouling out in the last minute.

Perry has scored 57 points in her last three games as she moved up to No. 3 all-time in Gallaudet's women's basketball scoring list with 1,483 points. Perry moved past Sherry Bradley (1,433 points from 1991-95) and Corina Gutierrez (1,430 points from 1989-93). Perry now trails Gallaudet Athletics Hall of Famers Ronda Jo Miller (2,656 points from 1996-00) and Touria Ouahid Boren (2,055 from 1996-99, 2000-01).

GU trailed 16-15 after the first quarter and was down 35-32 at the half.

The Bison had four players in double figures in Perry, senior guard Rajena Guettler (Frederick, Md.) with 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds, and junior guard Claire Ruiz-Tucker (Frederick, Md.) and Lexow chipped in 14 points each. Ruiz-Tucker passed out a team-high six assists and Lexow made a game-high three blocks.

Stockton was led by the trio of sophomore guard Imene Fathi (18 points, nine assists), junior guard Danielle Jeffreys (14 points) and sophomore forward Skylar Fowlkes (12 points). Jeffreys came off the bench and made two 3-pointers, including one at the 4:35 mark to tie the game at 62.

Gallaudet made the most of its opportunities at the free throw line as the Bison went 22-for-29 as Stockton racked up 23 personal fouls. The Bison made 9 of 14 free throws in the decisive fourth quarter alone.

This is the first time Gallaudet has defeated Stockton in three tries. The two teams have met the last three consecutive seasons. This was the Ospreys' second appearance in the Field House.
 
BISON TRACKS

• GU outrebounded Stockton, 41-35
• The Bison brought down 28 defensive rebounds
• Gallaudet's quarter totals (15, 17, 19, 21) increased by an even two points in successive order
• The game featured 12 lead changes and was tied on seven different occasions

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will next host Gwynedd Mercy University (7-7) on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. in the Field House. This will be the first meeting between the two programs. Gwynedd Mercy's first season of NCAA Division III women's basketball took place in 1992-93.