Women's Basketball | 1/3/2024 12:05:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University women's basketball team returns to Empire 8 play this coming weekend, traveling to Alfred and Elmira for games on Friday and Saturday, respectively. 
 
Friday's game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., while the Elmira game on Saturday will tip off at 2:00 p.m.
 
The Cardinals are 9-2 on the season so far, including a perfect 2-0 in the conference. They enter the weekend on a six-game winning streak, having won both games at the Naismith Classic at Springfield College over the New Year. 
 
Last Time Out
 
Junior guard Sidney Tomasso had 22 points and a personal season-high six steals as the Cardinals beat William Paterson University on New Year's Day, 81-61. Freshman forward Joleen Lusk has 12 points and led the team with 10 rebounds, while senior guard Claire Kruszka had a personal season-high 21 points. Tomasso and Lusk were named the Empire 8 Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively. 
 
Know Your Foes
 
Both Alfred and Elmira are familiar faces to the Cardinals in the Empire 8, but this weekend will be the first time they face the Saxons and Soaring Eagles in the 2023-24 season. 
 
Fisher is 52-2 all-time against Alfred, including a current 29-game win streak. Their only losses  to the Saxons came in the 2008-2009 season. Last season, the Cardinals won by scores of 58-44 and 72-45. Alfred enters the weekend 4-6 after a victory over CCNY on Dec. 30. Offensively, they are led by Leah Harkenrider, who averages 11 points per game.
 
The Cardinals are 65-13 all-time against Elmira, and haven't lost to the Soaring Eagles since their first meeting of the 2013-2014 season- an 18-game win streak. That includes last year's contests, which Fisher took 67-41 and 74-51. Laura Bogota leads Elmira with an average of 11.5 points per game. 
 
Blocking Off The Bench
 
Although the Cardinals have had the same starting five every game this season, contributions have still come from the bench, including by senior Lauren Nawojski. The forward is behind only Lusk in blocks made this season, with 11, including two in the New Year's Day win over William Patterson. 
 
Player To Watch
 
Lusk continues to have a great freshman season for the Cardinals. Already a three-time winner of the Empire 8 conference's Rookie of the Week award, the Cherry Valley Springfield graduate is first in the conference in rebounds-per-game (9.0), third in the conference among all players in points-per-game (15.0), third in field goal percentage (.486), and fourth in blocks-per-game (1.6). 
 
What Comes Next
 
After this weekend's games, the Cardinals return home next week for games against Keuka and Houghton on Tuesday and Friday, respectively. 
 
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