CLINTON, N.Y. – Freshman guard Natalie Mai scored 25 points while shooting 50% from the field, but the St. John Fisher women's basketball team couldn't claw back from another large second-half deficit in a 78-70 loss to SUNY Oswego on Friday to start the Hamilton College Tournament.
The Cardinals dropped to 0-2 on the young season with the loss, while the Lakers pulled to 1-1.
How It Happened
Oswego led by 14, 38-24, at the end of the first half after shooting nearly 40% overall (13-33) and 46.2% from 3-point range. The Lakers scored 14 points off 13 Fisher turnovers.
The Cardinals' hole quickly became deeper in the second half, as Oswego opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run to push their lead to a game-high 20 points, 46-26. But, as they did on Tuesday night when they fell behind by 16 to Ithaca, the Cardinals showed resolve and fought their way back into the game.
The Cardinals outscored the Lakers 29-13 over six minutes to trim their deficit to four points, 59-55. Mai and senior guard Hannah Ferguson each scored nine points during that stretch, and junior forward Alexa Gibson added eight.
Oswego led by six at the end of the third quarter and pushed its lead back to double digits early in the fourth on a pair of free throws from Sydney Hoefs. The Lakers maintained an eight- to 11-point lead the rest of the way.
The Lakers were led by Hoefs, who finished with 15 points while shooting 5 of 12 overall (2 of 6 from three) and 5 of 6 from the foul line. Four other players reached double figures, including Giavanna Principo-White (14 points, 13 rebounds), Bri Weaver (14 points), Sarah Hirschler (13 points) and Zhane Holmes (11 points).
Mai scored 17 of her game-high 25 points in the second half while shooting 5 of 10 overall, 4 of 7 from deep and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line.
Game Notes
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Gibson scored a career-high 16 points while shooting 6 of 9 from the field and 4 of 6 from the foul line. She also pulled down five rebounds.
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Ferguson matched her career high with 14 points. She scored nine of them in the second half while shooting 3 of 4 from 3-point range.
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Freshman forward Payton O'Dell pulled down seven rebounds and added five points.
Up Next
The Cardinals face Salve Regina at 1 p.m. on Saturday.