Women's Basketball | 1/19/2024 10:40:00 AM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Regardless of the sport, it's St. John Fisher University's greatest rivalry: the Battle of the Beaks with Nazareth University. That's just as true for women's basketball as it is any other sport where both schools have programs. Separated by only around a mile and a half, the Empire 8 contenders renew their feud this weekend at Nazareth's Kidera Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 5:00 P.M.
 
At stake will be far more than bragging rights: the top spot in the Empire 8 will also be on the line.

Here's what you need to know:
 
Last Time Out: The Cardinals beat Utica on Tuesday, 85-44. Senior guard Claire Kruszka, a reigning Empire 8 Player of the Week, continued her stellar play with a team-leading 15 points while adding four assists and three steals for good measure. It was the Cardinals' 11th straight win and ensured they remained undefeated in conference play.
 
Know Your Foe: As mentioned, Nazareth University (formerly Nazareth College) is St. John Fisher's biggest rival. However, the rivalry has been one-sided in the Cardinals' favor in women's basketball, with Fisher holding a 71-20 record, including a 29-13 mark since the 2005-2006 season. The Cardinals have won six straight against the Golden Flyers, the last loss coming on April 8, 2021 in the Empire 8 Championship Game. 
 
Nazareth currently sits at 14-1 on the year, including a 6-0 record in the Empire 8 that puts them neck-and-neck for the conference lead with Fisher. A win for Nazareth on Saturday, would actually put them ahead of the Cardinals due to head-to-head tiebreakers. They've won 13 straight games, the longest in program history. 
 
The Golden Flyers are led by sophomore Molly Benetti, who leads the team with 214 total points (14.3 points per game) and leads the Empire 8 in both field goal percentage (.584) and blocks per game (2.1).
 
Claire-ity: Kruszka has been on a hot streak since the year turned from 2023 to 2024: she's averaging 14 points a game, an increase from her 8.7 points per game average earlier in the season. 
 
Player to Watch: Junior guard Sidney Tomasso has continued to be a workhorse for the Cardinals- her 31.5 average minutes is fourth in the conference. She's been making the most of those minutes and is second in the conference in scoring average (15.5), third in steals per game (2.4), and fourth in rebounds per game (7.4). She'll likely be a key player against Nazareth.
 
What's Next: After the Nazareth game, the Cardinals will return home on Friday, Jan. 26, to host Sage College. 
 
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