PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's basketball team overcame a slow start as the Cardinals were able to secure their fourth conference win on Tuesday in a 48-42 victory over Houghton College on Bobby Wanzer Court in Manning and Napier Varsity Gym.  With the win, Fisher improved to 7-9 overall and 4-3 in the conference standings.  The Highlanders fell to 8-9 overall and 2-6 against conference opponents.

The Cardinals got off to a slow start in the opening quarter and found themselves in a 7-0 hole after four minutes of action.  Caroline Robertson got the home team on the board with a pair of free throws to make it 7-2, but Fisher wouldn't score from the field until the 3:35 mark on a layup by Maria Kelleher to end the drought. 

Trailing 14-7 to start the second stanza, Erin Hulbert knocked down a 3-pointer on a feed from Robertson to bring the Cardinals to within four points before both offenses stalled.  Points were at a premium as the Highlanders struggled from the floor the entire quarter and were only able to score two points in all after sinking a pair of free throws.  Fisher would go nearly six minutes of play without a point, but closed out the half on a 6-0 run capped by a layup from Jessica Rhone as time expired to knot the score at 16-16. 

Houghton maintained its advantage to start the third quarter until the Cardinals took their first lead of the game at 5:06 on a 3-pointer by Robertson to make it 25-24.  The Highlanders countered by scoring nine of the game's next 12 points to open up a five-point edge, 33-28, but as had been the case in the first half, the visitors couldn't sustain their momentum on the offensive end of the court.

With :18 second remaining in the third, Robertson took over, scoring seven straight points as Fisher scored 15 of the contest's next 18 points including an 8-0 burst to open up a seven-point lead, 43-36, with under a minute remaining.  Houghton would come to within three points late in the frame after knocking down back-to-back shots from distance, but Robertson converted three free throws down the stretch to seal the win for Fisher, 48-42.

Robertson posted her second consecutive double-double with a game-high 22 points and 15 rebounds.  Hulbert finished with nine points to go along with two boards and a steal while Emily Piacentini added six points and three steals in the win.  Nicole Robinson was a force in the paint with five blocked shots.

Fisher takes the court again at 6 p.m. on Thursday when it squares off with rival Nazareth College in Kidera Gymnasium.