PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's basketball team suffered an 81-68 setback on Saturday afternoon to the visiting Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks in an Empire 8 clash on Bobby Wanzer Court inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gym.  The loss snapped a two-game conference winning streak for the Cardinals and moved their overall record to 6-9 and 3-3 in Empire 8 play.  Stevens improved to 8-7 overall and 7-1 against conference competition.

Both teams got off to a strong start in the first quarter as Fisher opened the game with six straight points before the Ducks answered with seven consecutive points of their own to hold a one-point lead, 7-6.  Stevens would open up a three-point edge with just under two minutes showing on the clock after knocking down a pair of contested jumpers, but Fisher would tie the game when Maria Kelleher found Erin Hulbert on the wing for a 3-pointer to make it 11-11.

Trailing by two points to start the second quarter, Fisher would hang around and tied the game three times before the Ducks took a six-point lead courtesy of a 9-3 run to make it 30-24 with 2:11 left to go in the half.  Stevens' offensive output would dwindle over the final two minutes, however, as the Cardinals turned up the tempo on both ends of the court and closed out the half on a 7-0 run fueled by five points from Caroline Robertson to head into halftime with a 33-32 lead.

Fisher would add to its lead on its first possession of the third quarter, but Stevens found its rhythm as the Ducks opened up an 11-point lead with a 15-3 run, which included 12 unanswered points to bring it to 49-38.  The Cardinals kept pushing and eventually got the lead down to nine but Stevens scored five quick points in a span of 27 seconds to push its advantage to 14 points leading into the fourth period.

Head coach Marianne O'Connor Ermi's squad got it down to eight points with consecutive baskets from Caroline Robertson and Emily Piacentini, but the Ducks put the game out of reach with a 7-0 run to earn their conference-leading seventh win, 81-68.

Robertson established a new career-high with 26 points to go along with 11 rebounds and two steals.  Piacentini finished with 12 points while accounting for four assists and three steals on the defensive end of the court.  Nicole Robinson added 11 points and seven boards.  Hulbert had nine points and three assists.

The Cardinals will host another Empire 8 contest against Houghton College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday on Bobby Wanzer Court.