PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's basketball team fell on its home court to East Avenue rival Nazareth College on Tuesday night, 54-50, inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium on Bobby Wanzer Court in an Empire 8 tilt.  With the loss, Fisher slipped to 10-6 overall and 4-3 in the conference standings while the Golden Flyers moved up to 10-5 overall and 5-1 against Empire 8 opposition.

Both teams got off to a strong start, but it was the Golden Flyers that opened up an early lead courtesy of a 6-2 run that made it 10-6 with just over four minutes left to go in the opening quarter.  The Cardinals, however, kept it close with back-to-back 3-pointers by Olivia Baumann and Miranda Lynch to pull even, 12-12.  From there, Nazareth slowed the pace and worked the ball down low as the Golden Flyers scored the period's final four points to take a 16-12 lead into the second stanza.

The momentum changed hands quickly to begin the new quarter as Fisher reeled off six unanswered points to take its first lead of the contest, 18-16.  The advantage changed hands again after a modest 5-0 burst from Nazareth made it a three-point game before Julia Mertsock banked one in off the glass to cut the deficit to 21-20.

As the frame ticked away, Fisher's offense went cold as the Cardinals managed just two field goals over the final five minutes while the visitors scored 10 points including four from the free throw line to take a 31-24 edge into the break.

Trailing by seven to begin the second half, neither team was able to get much going in the third quarter as Nazareth's lead remained seven with a 41-34 advantage heading to the final frame.

Fisher struck first in the final stanza with Ella Eckert going 1-of-2 at the line to make it a six-point affair.  Both teams continued to exchange baskets over the next three minutes until the Cardinals pulled to within five points, 45-40, with a layup from Sydney Masna.  From there, however, Nazareth scored six of the game's next eight points to hold a 51-42 edge. 

Down by nine points with under two minutes to play, Alex Reigle turned the tides with a 3-pointer that sparked an 8-1 run capped by another deep 3-pointer from Erin Hulbert to make it 52-50 with 13 seconds still showing on the clock. 

With time running out on its comeback bid, Fisher resorted to fouling to preserve time.  The plan worked as the Golden Flyers made the first attempt, but missed the second as Fisher called a timeout to draw up a final play facing a three-point deficit.  The Cardinals inbounded the ball, but were unable to get a clean look as the visitors emerged on top, 54-50.

Eckert led the team in scoring with 12 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals while Mertsock added 10 points and four boards of her own.  Baumann finished with seven points while Reigle contributed six points, six rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes.  Hulbert chipped in with five points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Fisher will enjoy a week off before returning to the hardwood at 5:30 p.m. next Tuesday, January 29th against Utica College in Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium.