The St. John Fisher College women's basketball team dropped  a 73-47 decision to host University of California at Santa Cruz on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.  The game was tied at 11s after a jumper from Lunden Cunningham, but the Banana Slugs went on a 15-2 run over the next five minutes to take the lead for good.

Fisher, who shot just 22.2% from the floor in the first half, trailed 32-19 at the break and did not get any closer in the second half.

Portia Velasco, playing in her home state for the first time in her collegiate career, scored a team-high 11 points.   Emily Piacentini added nine points for the Cardinals, while McKenzie Bezon finished with a team-best seven boards.

Fisher returns to action at 6 p.m. on Sunday against Cal-Lutheran.