UTICA, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's basketball game won its second consecutive game on Tuesday as the Cardinals downed Utica College, 65-53, inside the Clark Athletic Center in what marked the Empire 8 debut for both teams.  With the win, Fisher improved to 5-4 and 1-0 in the Empire 8 standings while the Pioneers fell to 4-6 and 0-1, respectively.

After finding itself in a five-point hole after 10 minutes of play and having allowed 19 first-quarter points to the host Pioneers, Fisher took control of the second quarter.  Entering the frame down 19-14, the Cardinals opened the period with a 14 straight points and held the Pioneers scoreless for over seven minutes to hold a 28-21 lead.

As the quarter continued, Liga Astra Kalnina grabbed an offensive rebound and banked it off the glass to stake Fisher to a comfortable edge before a final minute free throw by Utica made it a 30-24 game heading into intermission. 

In the third quarter, Fisher continued to roll and eventually enjoyed an 11-point cushion when Erin Hulbert kicked it out to Katy McInerney for a 3-poiner as the Cardinals held a 45-34 lead with 1:30 remaining.  Utica countered with a three of its own and closed out the period on a modest 5-0 run to head into the final quarter trailing by six points, 45-39.

Clinging to a slight advantage, Fisher began to pull away as the final stanza got underway with Caroline Robertson, the reigning Empire 8 Player of the Week, sparking a 6-0 run to give the visitors a double-digit lead with just under seven minutes left in the contest.

Utica would pull to within six points, 52-46, but freshman Sydney Masna quieted the comeback attempt with a three-point play as the Cardinals closed out the game with six straight free throws to earn their first conference win of the season.

Robertson led the way for Fisher with 17 points and seven rebounds while Nicole Robinson finished with 12 points, six boards and three blocked shots.  Masna added 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 26 minutes and Hulbert contributed eight points, 11 rebounds and three assists overall.

The Cardinals jump back into action at 8 p.m. on Thursday as they continue conference play at Elmira College.