HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Senior guard Hannah Ferguson swished a game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in regulation to lift the St. John Fisher women's basketball team to a 63-62 road victory over Houghton on Tuesday night.
The Cardinals improved to 5-8 overall (2-2 Empire 8 Conference) with the victory, while Houghton suffered just its second loss of the season, dropping to 10-2 overall (2-2 Empire 8 Conference). The win marked Fisher's fourth in a row over the Highlanders.
Ferguson and fellow senior guard Presleigh Brunner each scored 14 points to lead the Cardinals, who struggled offensively for much of the game, shooting 34.5% overall (20-of-58) and 18.8% from three (3-of-16). Senior guard Julia Perales chipped in nine points, while junior forward Danielle Seamon, sophomore guard Valerosa Gambitta and freshman guard Natalie Mai added six apiece. Ferguson and Perales each had eight rebounds; Brunner grabbed seven.
The Highlanders had a similarly difficult shooting performance, going 34.3% overall (24-of-70) and 24.2% from three (8-of-33). Tabitha DeVries scored a game-high 17 points, and Crysta Lacrosse and Hannah Farley each had 13 points.
How It Happened
Neither team led by more than five points in a back-and-forth first half that ended with Fisher ahead by one, 30-29. Perales knocked down a pair of 3-pointers for six points in the opening quarter, while Brunner ended the first half with six points after scoring four in the first quarter and two in the second. Ferguson added four points in the second quarter on 2-of-5 shooting.
Houghton outscored St. John Fisher 12-4 in the first 3:53 of the second half to gain its largest lead of the contest, 41-34. The Cardinals pulled within one, 43-42, minutes later and went into the final quarter trailing by four, 50-46.
The Cardinals got within two on a Brunner layup 10 seconds into the fourth and took a 51-50 lead when Perales completed a 3-point play at the foul line at the 7:58 mark. Much like the first three quarters, the teams traded baskets the rest of the way, setting the scene for a compelling finish.
Brunner, who had six points in the final frame, made a layup to give the Cardinals a 60-58 lead with 2:33 left. The score remained there until Houghton, out of a timeout, took a 61-60 lead on a Teghan Trocki with 18 seconds remaining.
Brunner missed a layup on the ensuing possession, but the Cardinals got another chance to go for the win after Lacrosse made just one of her two free throws with eight seconds remaining. After a timeout, Ferguson popped open on a screen from Perales, received a pass from Brunner and sank the game-winner with a defender in her face, capping a second half in which she scored 10 points.
Houghton had one last gasp with three seconds remaining but ran out of time, failing to get a shot off before the final horn sounded.
Game Notes
Up Next
The Cardinals host Keuka College at 5:30 p.m. on Friday inside Manning & Napier Varsity Gym.
