PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Led by freshman Chelsea Repard's career-high 23 points, the St. John Fisher College women's basketball team cruised to 67-57 win over Utica College on Saturday afternoon in an Empire 8 matchup on Bobby Wanzer Court inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gym.  With the win, Fisher improved to 10-10 overall and 7-4 in the Empire 8 while the Pioneers fell to 6-14 overall and 4-7 against conference opponents. 

Neither team was able to generate much separation in the first quarter as the lead changed sides six times in all before a 3-pointer by Erin Hulbert with three seconds left staked Fisher to a two-point lead, 11-9.

The Cardinals began to pull away at the start of the second period as back-to-back layups by Nicole Robinson and Jessica Rhone gave Fisher a six-point edge, 15-9.  The Pioneers scored a pair at the free throw line over the next two minutes but would fall behind by as many as 15 points after Fisher poured in 11 unanswered points including five from Repard to make it 26-11 with 3:44 remaining in the half. 

Utica notched its first field goal of the quarter with 2:10 still showing on the clock and came to within 12 points, but Repard would bury another from behind the arc to send both teams into the break with Fisher holding a 15-point margin, 33-18.

The Cardinals' lead grew to 17 points with four minutes gone by in the third quarter after four straight points from Caroline Robertson, but the visitors would cut the deficit to nine points, 41-32, with a 10-2 run.

The two teams exchanged points down the stretch before Fisher bridged the third and fourth quarters with a 10-2 run of its own to open up 16-point advantage, 57-41, with 4:23 left to play in the contest.  The Pioneers came to within 11 points with a modest 5-0 run, but time expired with Fisher earning a 67-57 win.

Repard, who had 15 points in the first half, nailed six 3-pointers in all and shot 7-for-11 from the field overall.  Hulbert finished with 11 points and four rebounds while Robinson pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds and had four blocked shots to her credit.  Rhone added eight points and nine rebounds and Emily Piacentini contributed seven points and four assists in the win.

Fisher continues with its four-game home stand at 6 p.m. on Tuesday when it hosts Alfred University in an Empire 8 pairing.