UTICA, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's basketball team evened its conference record to 2-2 on Tuesday night as the Cardinals led wire-to-wire in a 74-59 win over the Utica College Pioneers inside the Clark Athletics Center Gymnasium.  With the win, Fisher improved to 5-8 overall while the Pioneers slipped to 5-10 overall and 3-3 in the conference standings after the loss.

The Cardinals got off to a quick start after scoring the game's first eight points before Utica could get on the board.  Fisher's lead would balloon to 14 points, 17-3, when Alex Reigle found Nicole Robinson underneath for one of her two first quarter baskets.  The Pioneers were able to regroup and cut the deficit to single digits after scoring the final five points of the quarter to make it 17-9 in the visitors' favor.

In the second stanza, Fisher continued to assert itself on the offensive end of the floor and used an 11-4 run that stretched nearly six minutes of play to hold a 16-point advantage, 32-16, with 1:37 left to play before intermission.  Utica was able to remain within striking distance as the half ticked away with three free throws down the stretch, but the Cardinals' lead remained in double-digits at halftime, 34-21.

Fisher continued to knock down shots to start the third quarter and eventually built a 21-point lead after a pair of free throws from Caroline Robertson made it 46-25.  After exchanging baskets over the next few possessions, the Cardinals opened up their largest lead of the game as Maria Kelleher buried a 3-pointer to make it 53-31 en route to a 20-point edge heading into the final frame.

The Pioneers looked to close the gap in the fourth and cut Fisher's lead to 14 points, but the comeback bid fell short as the Cardinals picked up the critical conference win.

Robertson led the team with 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, two steals and a pair of blocks.  Erin Hulbert and Alyssa Robens each finished with 12 points in the win with Hulbert adding eight rebounds and a game-high four assists. Jessica Rhone chipped in with eight points and three boards.

Overall, Fisher shot 27-for-58 (.466) from the floor and held the Pioneers to just 17 made field goals all game (17-for-50).  The Cardinals forced 17 turnovers and tallied five blocked shots. 

The Cardinals will take the court again 6 p.m. on Friday when they host Hartwick College on Bobby Wanzer Court inside the Manning and Napier Varsity Gym.