Box Score

The St. John Fisher College women's basketball program won its Empire 8 Conference season opener on Tuesday, as the Cardinals cruised to a 63-43 win over visiting Alfred University at Fisher's Varsity Gym.

Fisher never trailed in the game and enjoyed a double-digit lead at 14-4 less than six minutes in.   Fisher pushed its lead to 20 at 29-9 with just over four minutes left in the first half on back-to-back 3-pointers from freshman Mary Kate Cusack.   Cusack scored 12 in the first half, including a 20-footer from the right wing as time expired, giving the Cardinals a 36-15 advantage at the break.

Fisher stayed in control throughout the second half, keeping at least a 17-point lead for the remainder of the game.

Cusack led the Cardinals on the night with 18 points and seven steals (both career-highs), while Sydney Bloomstein also scored 18.   Sophomore Portia Velasco added 10 points, while classmate Brooke Seavitt chipped in with six.

Freshmen Cassie Pope and Aliyah Parris came off the bench and led the Cardinals with seven rebounds apiece.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak for the Cardinals and raises the team's overall record to 4-5.   Fisher will return to action at 6 p.m. on Friday and will host Elmira College, before closing out the first semester with a non-conference contest at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Rochester Institute of Technology.