Women's Basketball | 3/2/2024 10:27:00 PM
PROVIDENCE, RI – The St. John Fisher University fell to host Rhode Island College on Saturday, 66-43, in the second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship tournament. St. John Fisher had its season come to an end with a 24-5 record, while Rhode Island College stays unbeaten at 29-0.
Although the Cardinals kept pace with the nation's No. 3 team for the first half, a big third quarter by Rhode Island College put them at a double-digit deficit they were never able to make up. It's the third straight season that the Cardinals' season has come to an end in the second round of the "Big Dance."
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with six lead changes, eight ties, and neither team able to pull ahead by more than five.
Fisher would grab its first lead of the game with 5:16 left in the first quarter, as freshman forward Joleen Lusk hit a jumper to make it 6-4. The Anchorwomen soon answered to tie it up, however, and that was how much of the first half went: one team would grab a small lead, and the other would come back to tie it. The two teams played nearly the entire final nine minutes of the first half within two of each other until a late jumper by Rhode Island's Jeniyah Jones put the hosts up 27-24 going into the half. Junior guard Sidney Tomasso led both teams in first half points, with 12.
Trouble emerged in the early minutes of the second half, as Rhode Island College opened up play with a 13-0 run that gave them a 40-24 lead. The Cardinals then responded with a 7-4 run to make up some ground, but still entered the final quarter down 13, 44-31.
It was a deficit that they couldn't make up, as RIC expanded their lead the rest of the game.
Tomasso, the Empire 8 Tournament MVP and Player of the Year, finished with a team-high 22 points. Senior guard Claire Kruszka finished with six points and also had a steal. Freshman guard Madeline Ramsgard led Fisher in rebounds, with nine, and assists, with three.
Fisher ends the season at 24-5, their third-best full season of the last 10 years.
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