PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's basketball team dropped an Empire 8 contest to Nazareth College on Saturday in the annual Battle of the Beaks game on Bobby Wanzer Court in Manning and Napier Varsity Gym.  With the loss, Fisher slipped to 11-11 overall and 8-5 in the conference standings.  Nazareth improved to 11-12 overall and 7-7 against Empire 8 opponents. 

Fisher celebrated the accomplishments of its senior class prior to the contest as the Cardinals recognized Maria Kelleher, Emily Piacentini and McKenzie Bezon during a pre-game ceremony.

Fisher jumped out to an early 7-4 lead midway through the opening quarter but Nazareth closed the gap with a 3-pointer to knot things up at seven points apiece.  The advantage changed hands five times over the next three minutes until Kelleher staked the Cardinals to a two-point lead, 14-12, after burying a three from the wing.  Fisher would make it a four-point game heading into the second quarter as Caroline Robertson's jumper from the top of the key found nothing but net to bring the score to 16-12.

The Golden Flyers would make quick work of the deficit to start the second frame as the visitors rattled off seven unanswered points as part of a 12-2 run to open up a six-point edge, 24-18, with 7:01 still to play in the second period.   

The Cardinals countered with five points of their own including a 3-pointer by Piacentini to climb to within one point, but Nazareth connected on back-to-back shots from downtown to lead by seven points, 32-25, with 3:28 to go before the break.  Fisher closed the gap as the half came to a close with a 6-2 run to head into intermission trailing by two points, 37-35.

After a pair of free throws by Nazareth to start the third quarter, Fisher would take the lead after five straight points from Erin Hulbert as part of a 9-2 run to make it 44-41 in the Cardinals' favor.  The Golden Flyers tied it up on their next possession with one of their 11 3-pointers in the game to knot things up at 44-44.  From there, Nazareth strung together 13 unanswered points including three more from distance to take a double-digit lead, 59-49, into the fourth quarter.

Fisher would cut the lead to four points on another 3-pointer from Piacentini, but that was as close as the Cardinals would get as Nazareth escaped with a 72-66 win.

Robertson led the way for Fisher with 19 points to go along with seven rebounds and three steals while Piacentini capped senior day with 16 points, four assists and three steals of her own.  Hulbert finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and three swipes overall.

Fisher plays its final regular season home game at 6 p.m. on Wednesday when it hosts Elmira in an Empire 8 bout.