HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Amy Gardner scored a career-high 17 points while both Ella Eckert and Julia Mertsock posted double-doubles as the St. John Fisher College women's basketball team upended Houghton College, 69-56, on Saturday in an Empire 8 showdown inside The Nielson Center.  With the win, Fisher climbed to 9-4 overall and remained unblemished in the conference standings at 2-0 while the Highlanders dipped to 2-11, 0-2, respectively.

The Cardinals controlled the pace of play from the opening whistle and broke a 7-7 tie as Mertsock scored six straight points to make it 13-7.  As the quarter continued, Fisher held a comfortable lead as the Cardinals took a 17-11 edge into the second frame.

The lead would grow to double figures following a modest 6-0 burst before the Highlanders cut the deficit to seven points, 31-24, with 3:38 still showing before halftime.  With time winding down, Fisher took control and used a 7-2 run to close out the first half with a 12-point edge, 38-26.

In the third quarter, the Cardinals' lead would balloon to as many as 17 before Houghton began to find its groove to the tune of a 7-2 run over the final four minutes of play to keep it a 12-point affair with one quarter to play.

With just 10 minutes remaining in regulation, the home team was able to pull to within nine, but was never able to mount a serious comeback threat as the Cardinals knocked down four free throws over the final two minutes to earn their second conference win in as many nights.

Gardner poured in a career-high 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting while Mertsock finished with a double-double on 15 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.  Eckert also finished with a double-double as the sophomore forward added 15 points of her own along with 12 boards.  Harper Mead was the driving force behind the Cardinals' offense as the freshman handed out seven assists in the win.  

The Cardinals will return to the hardwood at 7:30 p.m. on Friday when they travel east down I-90 to take on Utica College in an Empire 8 clash.