BOX SCORE
The St. John Fisher College women's basketball team nearly overcame an eight point deficit late in the second half against local-rival Nazareth College, but a pair of free throws with just four seconds remaining gave Nazareth a 61-59 win over the Cardinals.
After leading by four at the half, Fisher saw its lead evaporate as Nazareth opened the second half with a 20-2 run to take control. The Nazareth lead grew to as many as ten points, 55-45, with just 5:20 remaining before the Cardinals began to crawl back into the game. Behind a 10-4 spurt highlighted by a traditional three-point play from
Kristen Taliento, Fisher tied the game with just 14 seconds to play.
On the Golden Flyers' final possession, guard Kelly Dunne drove to the basket and drew a foul. Dunne, who finished the game with seven points and four assists, stepped to the line and calmly sank both free throw attempts to give her team a two point lead. Fisher attempted a desperation heave from just inside half court but the attempt was off the mark.
After shooting 41.4% (12-for-29) from the floor in the first half to build a lead as big as nine points, the Cardinals came out ice cold in the second half. Fisher converted on just 7-of-27 (25.9%) attempts, but still managed to cut Nazareth's lead in the final five minutes.
Fisher gained momentum in the first half with ten unanswered points midway through. Fisher enjoyed a nine point lead, 22-13, at the 5:53 mark before Nazareth answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 26 three minutes later. Megan Tubbs got things going again with a jumper and transition layup, with
Meghan Soja, who finished with a team-high 10 points, knocking down a pair of free throws to give the Cardinals a slim lead (35-31) at the half.
Fisher (10-6 overall, 3-4 Empire 8) will take on Hartwick College in another Empire 8 Conference game at 6 p.m. on Friday.
