WASHINGTON, D.C. – It didn't take long for the 2010-11 Gallaudet University women's basketball team to set a record under the direction of Coach Kevin Cook, now in his fourth season at the helm, as the Bison surpassed the century mark in a 101-41 victory against Christendom College in the season and home opener Monday for the Buff and Blue. The 101 points scored are the most netted by a Cook coached team at GU and the first time the Bison reached 100 points since the 1999-00 season.
GU (1-0) trailed briefly at the start against Christendom (3-3) but focused on causing turnovers and feeding the post players in the paint. Seniors Nukeitra Hayes (Anderson, Ind.) and Easter Faafiti (Pittsburg, Calif.) combined to score 27 and 20 points, respectively, and the pair had five rebounds, five assists and five steals apiece in 25 minutes. The duo had more points together then the entire Crusader squad. Hayes' 27 points was the most since she netted a career best 32 points back on February 6, 2008, against Stevenson University, during her freshman year. She has 13 20-point games as a Bison in four years. Faafiti, a preseason All-American, scored 13 of her 20 points in the second half as she recorded her 11th 20-point game in two seasons with the Bison.
In addition to Hayes and Faafiti the Bison had two other players reach double figures in the 60-point win. Sophomore Shaquana McDonough (Pembroke, Mass.) scored 11 points and made six steals while freshman center Shawnese Taylor (Great Mills, Md.) came off the bench and scored 12 points in 13 minutes in her Bison debut. Fellow freshman Zamica Gage (Washington, D.C.) was also impressive in her debut as she scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds, passed out a game-high nine assists and made two steals in 21 minutes of action. Freshman Tandy Lewis (Frederick, Md.) scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds off the bench. The Bison bench outscored the Crusaders 29-2.
Gallaudet finished the game with 26 steals which ironically was the same total it had a year ago against the Crusaders in a 72-26 win on November 23, 2009. GU scored 52 points off turnovers on Monday and netted 76 points in the paint while Christendom was limited to six points in the paint.
The Crusaders were led by Mary Barbale's 20 points and five rebounds and Morgan Kavanagh's 11 points as the pair played with four fouls the majority of the game.
The Bison will next host their annual GU Holiday Tournament that will begin on Saturday, November 27, with the first game scheduled to tip at 2 p.m. GU will host Penn St.-York at 6 p.m. on Saturday with the winner advancing to Sunday's championship game at 4 p.m.