MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The Gallaudet University women's basketball team battled fiercely in a United East road contest at Penn State Harrisburg here Saturday afternoon in the Capital Union Building but came up just short, 78-75, as the Lions drained a last-second buzzer-beater.

Gallaudet (1-11, 0-4 United East) dominated early as it outscored Penn St. Harrisburg 25-13 in the first quarter and maintained momentum to stretch the margin to 20 at halftime up 40-20.
The Bison continued to control the game in the third quarter as they extended their lead to 21, 61-40, while shooting an efficient 50 percent from the field (6-for-12) and 72.7 percent at the free-throw line (8-for-11).

In the final quarter, Penn St. Harrisburg (4-12, 3-2 United East) scored 38 points that culminated with a game-winning 3-pointer basket at the buzzer that sealed the narrow victory. The Lions scored 21 points off turnovers that helped to take the comeback win. 

At the 13-second mark, the Lions made two free throws by Brookelynn Carr to take a 75-73. This was Penn St. Harrisburg's first lead of the game since the opening seconds of the first quarter.
GU senior guard Sunita Schmidjorg (Austin, Texas) went coast-to-coast for a quick layup to tie the game with six seconds left. Penn St. Harrisburg had enough time to get off a final shot. JP Ferguson shot a 3-pointer from the left side of the arc as the ball banked off the backboard and rattled around the hoop and went in with no time left to give the Lions the win and stun the Bison.

Gallaudet had five different players in double digits. Sophomore guard/forward Mackenzie Schirg (Factoryville, Pa.) led the way with a career-high 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds which is her fifth career double-double. Junior guard Seanna Baird (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored 13 points, passed for eight assists and was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Schmidjorg added 13 points, two assists and grabbed two rebounds. First-year forward/center Kayla Debrow (Jacksonville, Fla.) improved her career-high point total to 13 and grabbed seven rebounds in only 22 minutes played as she fouled out. Sophomore forward Sophia Wascher (Noblesville, Ind.) was the fifth Bison in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds.

The Lions had three players score in double figures, led by Lauren Moffatt who posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

BISON TRACKS

• The 75 points scored is a new season-high for GU
• Gallaudet shot 49.1 percent from the field (27 for 55) to set a new top mark for the season
• The Bison passed out a season best 16 assists
• Since 2010, Gallaudet is now 5-13 against Penn St. Harrisburg

UP NEXT
Gallaudet returns home to host Lancaster Bible College (7-10, 5-0 United East) on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m in a conference game.