PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women's basketball team poured in a season-high 82 points on Tuesday and cruised to a 32-point win over visiting Union College, 82-50, in a non-conference clash inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium on Bobby Wanzer Court.  With the win, Fisher, which is ranked 20th in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll, moved to 6-1 on the year while Union slipped to 1-3 following the defeat.

Three players finished in double figures led by Ella Eckert who posted her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists and a steal while Julia Mertsock added 13 points and eight boards in 20 minutes.  Miranda Lynch chipped in with 12 points while Leah Koonmen notched seven points and seven rebounds in the win.

After jumping out to a six-point lead over the first two minutes of play, the Cardinals' lead would shrink to three after Union buried a 3-pointer to make it 10-7.  From there, however, Fisher would control the tempo as the Cardinals scored 12 of the quarter's final 14 points including six points from Lynch to take a 22-9 lead into the second period.

The Cardinals' hot shooting carried over as Lynch drilled a 3-pointer on a feed from Eckert before Harper Mead, who was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Week on Monday, followed suit to push the home team's lead to 19, 28-9.  As the stanza wore on, Lynch struck again with another triple that capped a 9-2 burst as the Cardinals opened up a 31-11 cushion.

Trailing by double digits, Union's defense began to show signs of life as the Dutchwomen held Fisher to just four points over the final five minutes of the half to make it a 15-point game at the break, 35-20.

As the third quarter got underway, Fisher padded its lead as head coach Melissa Kuberka's squad orchestrated a 9-1 run over the opening three minutes of play to hold a 23-point edge.  From there, Union would pull to within 19 points, but an old-fashioned 3-point play from Mallory Wood extended Fisher's hold to 24 points with under two minutes to go in the quarter.

Fisher's momentum continued to build as the fourth quarter got underway with Alyssa Ballou and Anna Milham coming off the bench to hit back-to-back baskets.  The Cardinals' lead would balloon to as many as 33 before the final horn sounded.

Overall, Fisher's size was evident from the opening whistle as the Cardinals pounded the ball down low and finished with 40 points in the paint.  The home team was efficient from the free throw line after knocking down 14-of-15 chances.  The Cardinals were also a force on the defensive end of the floor as they held the Dutchwomen to just 16 field goals all game. 

Fisher will make its way downstate at 1 p.m. on Saturday when it travels to New York University to take on the Violets in another non-conference bout.