Women's Basketball | 1/14/2022 7:11:00 PM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women's basketball team made quick work of Utica College on Friday night as the No. 25 Cardinals defeated the Pioneers, 84-51, in an Empire 8 battle inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium on Bobby Wanzer Court. With the win, Fisher improved to 11-1 and 3-1 in the conference standings while the Pioneers were handed their first loss of the season and fell to 12-1, 3-1, respectively.
Sidney Tomasso led the way for the Cardinals with a career-high 14 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals while Kaitlyn Walker notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards. Claire Kruszka added 12 points of her own paired with five rebounds and a team-leading five assists. Miranda Lynch added 12 points off the bench for Fisher while Amy Gardner and Lauren Nawojski each netted eight points in all.
The Cardinals came out hot to begin the first quarter and jumped out to a 16-10 lead with seven minutes gone by after burying four straight field goals including five points from Tomasso.
As the period wore on, Fisher continued to knock down shots and used an 11-2 run over the final 2:13 fueled by two 3-pointers to hold a double-digit lead heading into the second quarter.
The Cardinals carried their momentum into the second quarter as Gardner kicked it out to Lynch who buried an open shot from downtown to make it 30-13. From there, Fisher pushed its lead to 19 before the Pioneers registered four quick points to pull to within 15, 37-22, midway through the period.
Facing an uphill climb, Utica was unable to generate much on the offensive end of the floor as Fisher scored 12 unanswered points as part of a larger 15-2 run to close out the opening half holding a 52-24 cushion.
Coming out of the break, Fisher added to its advantage as its lead grew to as many as 36 points in the third period courtesy of a 10-0 burst to make it 62-26.
Overall, head coach
Melissa Kuberka's squad was 32-for-72 (.444) including a season-high 12 3-pointers. Fisher controlled the glass and out-rebounded Utica, 44-30, and forced its guest in to 23 turnovers.
The Cardinals are back in action at 2 p.m. on Saturday when they travel to Elmira to take on the Soaring Eagles in another Empire 8 tilt.