PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's basketball team was back in action on Monday night as the Cardinals fell to former Empire 8 rival Ithaca College, 76-66, in a non-conference tilt inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium on Bobby Wanzer Court.  With the defeat, Fisher moved to 7-4 while the Bombers improved to 5-3 on the year.

Both teams looked to settle in as the game got underway, however, neither was able to generate much on the offensive end of the floor over the opening six minutes of play.  With the game deadlocked at 6-6 and 4:17 still showing on the clock, the Bombers went on the move as Ithaca used a 12-2 run to open up a double-digit lead before Amy Gardner drained a 3-pointer on the wing as time expired in the quarter.

Trailing 18-11 to begin the second period, Fisher would cut the deficit to five points when Ella Eckert weaved through traffic for a lay-up, but Ithaca would regain momentum after scoring six unanswered points to make it 24-13 in the visitors' favor. 

Facing a double-digit gap midway through the second frame, Fisher turned to its bench as five fresh players subbed in.  The move seemed to work as the Cardinals quickly chipped away and strung together eight of the game's next 12 points to pull to within seven, 36-29, before a pair of free throws gave Ithaca a nine-point cushion at the break.

Coming out of the intermission, both teams struggled to find a rhythm on the offensive end of the floor as neither produced a point from the field over the first three minutes of action.  Down by 10 with time ticking away, the Cardinals would cut the Bombers' advantage in half after a small 5-0 burst was part of a larger 11-4 run that saw Julia Mertsock score four points to make it a one possession game, 44-41, with 3:30 still showing on the clock. 

The Cardinals remained within striking distance as the period wore on before the Bombers scored back-to-back baskets to take an eight-point margin into the final quarter.

Ithaca's momentum carried into the fourth as the Bombers reeled off nine straight points to extend their lead to 17 points, 62-45.  Despite the uphill climb, Fisher continued to battle down the stretch and would pull to within six points following a pair of free throws from Eckert, but that was as close as they'd get as Ithaca buried five from the charity stripe over the final two minutes to hold on for the win.

Mertsock led Fisher with 14 points over 23 minutes as the sophomore forward also accounted for six rebounds and an assist.  Eckert finished with 13 points and two boards while Mallory Wood added 10 points, five rebounds and two assists overall.  Milham chipped in with nine points and three rebounds off the bench.  

With their non-conference schedule now behind them, the Cardinals will jump into Empire 8 play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday when they travel to Alfred University to take on the Saxons.