PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University women's basketball team overcame a 16-point deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter before running out of gas down the stretch in a 58-52 season-opening loss to Ithaca College on Tuesday night at Manning & Napier Varsity Gym.

Senior guard Presleigh Brunner led the Cardinals with a career-high 26 points while shooting 11 of 21 overall, 2 of 7 from 3-point range and 2 of 2 from the foul line. No other Cardinal had more than seven points. 

Tori Drevna led the Bombers with 15 points, while Madalyn Barrows had 13 and Zorida Icabalceta added 11. Ithaca cashed in for 15 points off 19 St. John Fisher turnovers. 

How It Happened 

The Bombers had control almost the entire first half, using an 11-2 run to take a 13-4 lead in the first quarter. Fisher closed the gap to 13-9 before the opening frame ended, but Ithaca pushed its lead to a game-high 16 points with a 17-5 run over the first six minutes of the second quarter. Icabalceta scored six points during that stretch, while Drevna chipped in five.

Ithaca took a 10-point lead, 32-22, into halftime and maintained an eight- to 12-point lead throughout the third quarter. Things didn't stay comfortable for much longer. 

Brunner scored nine points while shooting 4 of 5 overall (1 of 2 from three) during a 14-3 run that lasted more than six minutes. The Cardinals tied the Bombers at 46 on sophomore guard Valerosa Gambitta's layup with 4:08 left and took the lead on junior forward Danielle Seamon's layup on their next trip down the floor. 

Brunner scored 11 points while shooting 5 of 6 in the fourth quarter. She had 17 points overall and shot 7 of 11 from the field in the second half. 

The Bombers shot a paltry 1 of 13 overall and an even worse 0 of 9 from 3-point range during Fisher's fourth-quarter surge but pulled it together just enough in the final three minutes and change. Itaca tied the game at 48 on a Drevna layup with 3:35 to play and took the lead 30 seconds later on a Natalie Tucker jumper. Barrows made a layup to put Ithaca ahead by four, 52-48, with 2:45 left. 

The Bombers knocked down six of their eight free-throw attempts in the final 1:10 to secure the victory.

Game Notes

• The performance marked Brunner's third collegiate game with 20 points or more. 

• Brunner's 11 made field goals marked a career high. 

• Gambitta scored a career-high seven points while shooting 3 of 9 overall and 1 of 3 from deep. She led the Cardinals with 10 rebounds. 

Up Next

The Cardinals face Oswego State in the Hamilton College Tournament at 5 p.m. on Friday.