BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Senior guards Presleigh Brunner and Hannah Ferguson each scored more than 20 points, but it wasn't enough as the St. John Fisher women's basketball team fell 78-67 in an Empire 8 Conference road matchup on Friday afternoon.
The Cardinals (4-7, 1-1 Empire 8) had another uneven offensive performance, finishing 21-of-81 (25.9%) from the field with 29 turnovers. Brockport (6-5, 2-0 Empire 8), which shot nearly 45% overall, scored 24 points off turnovers and finished with a 48-18 advantage in paint points.
Ferguson set career highs in points (22) and rebounds (13) as part of her second collegiate double-double. She also had four steals, three assists and a blocked shot.
Brunner added 21 points while shooting 6-of-20 overall, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. She grabbed eight rebounds, tallied five steals and dished out three assists.
Sophomore guard Valerosa Gambitta had nine points and 11 rebounds, and junior forward Danielle Seamon had nine points to go with five rebounds.
Stephanie Jean-Baptiste led the Golden Eagles with 16 points while shooting 7-for-19, including 2-of-7 from deep. Mandy Brink (14 points) and Peyton Manderi (12 points) also scored in double figures, and Claire Turnoers led Brockport with 11 rebounds.
How It Happened
The Golden Eagles took control from the jump, as they outscored the Cardinals 27-7 over the first seven minutes while shooting 11-of-16 overall and 3-of-4 from deep. Fisher made just three of its first 16 shots and committed 10 turnovers in that stretch.
Brockport used a 10-4 run in the first four minutes of the second quarter to push its lead to a game-high 22 points, 42-20. Brink led the Golden Eagles with six points in that span, while Fisher's offensive struggles continued to the tune of 2-of-9 from the field.
The Golden Eagles ended the first half with a 16-point lead after shooting 45.2% overall in the opening 20 minutes. Maneri led the way with eight points, Brink had six and four others had five apiece, including Jean-Baptiste.
Fisher had its best burst of the game in the third quarter, pulling within eight, 57-49, on Gambitta's 3-pointer during a 10-2 run. But Brockport quickly thwarted the push with a 6-0 run before the frame ended to get its lead back to a comfortable margin, 63-49.
Ferguson, who finished 7-of-17 overall, 3-of-5 overall and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, scored 13 of her 22 points and had seven rebounds in the second half. Brunner scored 11 points in the first half and 10 in the second.
Game Notes
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Ferguson has scored at least 15 points in each of the Cardinals' last three games.
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Ferguson had notched both of her collegiate double-doubles this season. She had 10 points with 16 rebounds in a November victory over SUNY Morrisville.
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Brunner has scored 20 or more points three times this season, with two of those performances coming in Fisher's last three games.
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Gambitta's 11 rebounds marked a career high.
Up Next
The Cardinals face SUNY Geneseo at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Carl Schrader Gymnasium.