The St. John Fisher College women's basketball team improved to 6-3, 2-1 in the Empire 8 on the season with a 72-64 win over host Alfred University on Saturday.

 

The Cardinals, who trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half of play, outscored the Saxons 39-26 in the second half to overcome a five-point halftime deficit.

 

Center Mary Kate Comfort (Orchard Park/Orchard Park) recorded 10 of her 14 points in the initial 20 minutes, helping the Cardinals trim the lead to five going in the locker room.

 

Fisher continued its strong play in the second half, shooting 46.2% from the floor (12-of-26), including 50.0% percent from 3-point range, and taking the lead for good at the 14:59 mark on a Lyndsay Murphy (Hornell/Almond) lay-up. 

 

Fisher enjoyed a 10 point advantage (50-40) with 13:10 to play, but the Saxons charged back, cutting the Cardinals' lead to just three points with an 11-4 run over a 5:10 span.  Fisher answered with a 3-pointer from freshman Colleen Maloney (Liverpool/Liverpool), and held off the Saxons for the remainder of the game.   

 

Allison Boehm (Sacred Heart/Cheektowaga) led all scorers with 19 points, including 15 second-half points, and added eight rebounds, while Murphy chipped in with 10 points and three assists.  Ashley Dean (Horseheads/Hoprseheads) recorded eight points in the win.

 

The Saxons (1-7, 0-2 Empire 8) were paced by Melanie Jackson (17 points, six rebounds), Alysha Dias (16 points, eight rebounds), and Danielle Cooper (10 points, 10 rebounds).