BOX SCORE

Sophomore Colleen Maloney scored 20 points to lead all scorers, but is wasn't enough, as the St. John Fisher College women's basketball team suffered a 68-58 loss to host Utica College in Empire 8 action on Friday. With the loss, the Cardinals' record stands at 6-3 overall, 2-2 in the Empire 8.

 

The Pioneers, who went 12-for-12 free throw line over the opening half, and 24-for-26 for the game, gained the lead in the opening minutes of the game and slowly built up their lead over the course of the half. Utica held a modest three-point advantage (14-11) at the 10:50 mark, but built the cushion to 14 points, the largest of the half, with a 19-8 run that spanned 8:04 and powered the Pioneers to a 39-28 lead at the half.

 

With the Cardinals still trailing by 11 at 45-34, six minutes into the final stanza, junior center Mary Kate Comfort brought the Cardinals to within five (45-40) with baskets on three straight possessions. Utica responded with a 6-0 run of their own, and fought the Cardinals off for the rest of the game to set their record at 5-4 overall, 2-1 in the Empire 8.

 

Maloney (20 points), and Comfort (15 points) were the only players to score in double figures for the Cardinals. Stephanie Sweeney dished out a career-high nine assists, while Comfort grabbed seven boards the lead the Cardinals on the glass.

 

Fisher will return to action on Sunday at Elmira College.