ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – Senior guard
Raj Guettler (Frederick, Md.) wrote her name into the Gallaudet University women's basketball history books several times here Saturday as the Bison played in the 2025 United East championship game in the Michael P. O'Brien Athletics & Recreation Center Arena.
Guettler was in the right place at the right time. After a missed Bison shot, Guettler grabbed the rebound in the post and immediately put the basketball back up before the horn sounded. The shot banked off the glass and went through the hoop as third-seeded Gallaudet University defeated top-seed St. Mary's College of Maryland, 71-70, in overtime before 355.
Gallaudet (18-10) celebrated the thrilling victory as the bench and Bison students stormed the court and piled on each other under the basket. This is Gallaudet's first women's basketball championship.
"We are incredibly proud to bring home the first conference championship in Gallaudet women's basketball history," said Gallaudet coach
Stephanie Stevens, now in her 12 season. "This victory is a testament to the relentless work and dedication of every student-athlete, coach, and staff member who has been part of this journey. More than just a win, this is for the former student-athletes, coaches, and supporters who laid the foundation for our success—those who fought, came close, and pushed this program forward. Their legacy is reflected in this trophy, and today, we celebrate them as much as we celebrate this championship. This was an incredible battle between two great programs, and we are deeply grateful for the fans and supporters who lifted us up today."
The Bison earn the automatic bid as the representative from the United East in the upcoming 2025 NCAA Division III women's basketball championship. GU will make its fourth NCAA tournament appearance and the first since the 2010-11 season.
Guettler was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) as she led all-scorers with 24 points, eight rebounds as she made 11-of-16 shots from the field in 41 minutes played. Guettler had a day to remember as she also collected her 1,000th career point in the second quarter.
GU almost won the game in regulation when the Bison led by three points, on three different occasions in the final 50 seconds of play. The last three-point lead came after junior center
Hannah Puent (Indianapolis, Ind.) made two free throws with 10 seconds left and Gallaudet up 63-60.
St. Mary's (20-8) took a timeout to draw up a play. The Seahawks got the ball to sophomore guard Ji-Young Hartman, who drained a 3-pointer with five seconds left to knot the game at 63 and force overtime.
In the extra period, the game was neck-and-neck as neither team led by more than two points. Senior guard
Claire Ruiz-Tucker (Middletown, Md.) and Guettler both made two baskets each in the eight-point overtime period for the Bison. Ruiz-Tucker gave GU a 69-67 lead with 47 seconds left. St. Mary's went to the foul line twice in the waning seconds and made 3-of-4 shots and held a slim 70-69 lead with three seconds left.
Coach Stevens called a timeout to focus her team and draw up the game-winning play. Senior guard
Sunita Schmidjorg (Austin, Texas) inbound the ball from the far sideline, across from the Bison bench. Schmidjorg passed the ball into Puent who made a quick shot from the left post. Puent's shot bounced off the iron and into the hands of Guettler, who boxed out Seahawk defender Olivia Liszit for the clutch rebound. That board was Guettler's only offensive rebound in the game. Guettler made the put back and the rest is etched into Gallaudet athletic lore for years to come.
The game started off with high energy on display by both teams, who fed off their fans gathered to watch the United East championship game. GU took the lead, four different times, in the opening quarter before the Seahawks tied the game at 13-13 after 10 minutes.
In the second quarter, GU used a 13-0 run to go from down two points, 17-15, to up 11 in a six-minute span. Included in that span was another historical moment involving Guettler. The Frederick, Md., native became the 15th player in GU women's basketball history to reach 1,000 career points. Schmidjorg came up with the steal around midcourt and went on the fast break. Schmidjorg gave up the ball to a streaking Guettler, who made the layup on the right side of the basket at the 4:10 mark in the second quarter. Guettler's 14th point in the game gave her 1,000 career points.
The Seahawks scored the final six points to trim the Bison lead to five, 28-23, as the team went into halftime.
GU began the third quarter much like the second, with a Guettler basket. Two minutes later, senior center
Alexis Roberts (Newton, Miss.) drained a 3-point shot in front of the Bison bench as GU led 34-27. That was only Roberts' second 3-pointer all season.
The Seahawks got back into the game with their own 14-0 run in four minutes. SMC went from down seven to up six, 41-35, at the 3:31 mark. The game, for a moment, seemed like it was slipping out of Gallaudet's grasp. The Bison made three baskets and only trailed by two, 45-43, heading into the fourth quarter.
Puent finished the game with 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal as nearly half of her points came from the free-throw line (6 for 8). Roberts, who was in foul trouble in the second half, recorded 11 points and six rebounds before fouling out with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter. Sophomore guard/forward
Cam Lexow (Abington, Pa.) tallied eight points, six boards, three blocks, three assists and two steals in 41 minutes. Schmidjorg matched Lexow with eight points, eight assists (ties career high), three rebounds and two steals. Ruiz-Tucker recorded six points, seven rebounds, four assists and one steal.
Liszit led the Seahawks with 18 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Keira Mason and Saffiyah Gibson finished the game with 10 points each. Mason completed the double-double with 11 rebounds and two blocks.
St. Mary's finishes the season with the most wins since the 1999-2000 season when the Seahawks went 23-4. The loss snaps a nine-game winning streak for the Seahawks, who last lost to Gallaudet here back on January 22 of this season. In fact, GU has been the only team to beat St. Mary's in the 2025 calendar year. Of the five home losses the Seahawks experienced, the last two came from the hands of the Bison.
BISON TRACKS
- The game featured 14 ties and 12 lead changes
- GU scored 38 points in the paint and 18 fast break points
- The Bison made 15-of-20 (75.0 percent) from the free throw line compared to 15 for 28 (53.6) for SMC
- St. Mary's held a 48-46 edge in rebounds
- GU won the season series against St. Mary's, 2-1, with both wins coming in the MPOARC Arena
- The 18 wins are a new season best during the Coach Stevens era (2012-present)
- The last time GU women's basketball had 18 or more wins was in 2010-11 when they went 24-4
UP NEXT
The NCAA will announce the 2025 NCAA Division III women's basketball championship field this Monday, March 3, at 2:30 p.m. (EST) on NCAA.com. The first-round games will take place on Friday, March 7.
