PITTSFORD, N.Y. – St. John Fisher women's basketball guard Presleigh Brunner had a Senior Day to remember with 22 points to lead the Cardinals to a 69-58 victory over Utica on Saturday inside Manning & Napier Varsity Gym. 

The Cardinals improved to 10-10 overall and 7-4 in Empire 8 Conference play with the win, while Utica suffered its fourth consecutive loss, falling to 6-14 overall and 2-9 in E8 play. The victory marked the Cardinals' 24th in a row over the Pioneers, a streak that dates back to January 2013. 

Brunner, who recorded her second straight game and sixth overall this season with 20 points or more, shot 8-of-15 from the field (2-of-3 from three) and a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line. She also had three rebounds, two assists and two steals. 

Senior guard Hannah Ferguson scored 16 points while shooting 7-of-12 overall (2-of-7 from three), grabbed five rebounds, blocked three shots, dished out two assists and recorded two steals. Freshman forward Payton O'Dell shot 4-of-7 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line for a season-high 15 points. 

Emma Simmons led the Pioneers with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point territory. Natalie Cornell had 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while McKenzie Simmons chipped in 10 points. 

The Cardinals honored their six seniors – Brunner, Ferguson, Lindsay Martin, Mary Marrapese, Julia Perales and Ashley Pavan – before the game. 

How It Happened

After a tight opening frame during which neither side had a lead larger than three, the Cardinals slowly took control in the second quarter. They pushed their lead to seven points twice in the early stages and finished the quarter strong to take a double-digit lead into the break. In the final 53 seconds, O'Dell made a pair of three throws and Ferguson and sophomore guard Valerosa Gambitta made layups to make it 37-27. 

O'Dell dominated in the second quarter, scoring nine points while shooting 2-of-3 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. Brunner scored six points in the quarter to finish the first half with nine, and Ferguson had four points in each of the first two quarters to go into the break with eight. 

The Cardinals carried their momentum into the third quarter, as they pushed their lead to a game-high 17 points with a 7-0 run that included four points from O'Dell, two from Brunner and one from Perales. Brunner shot 3-of-3 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line for 10 points in the frame.

Fisher remained in control throughout the final quarter, never letting Utica pull within fewer than 11 points. 

Game Notes

• Brunner has made 55.2% of her shots (21-of-38) over the Cardinals' last three games. 

• Brunner has shot 66.6% (6-of-9) from 3-point range over the Cardinals' last three games. 

• Ferguson has scored in double figures in 11 of the Cardinals' last 12 games. She has scored 15 points or more in seven of those contests. 

• Martin and Pavan scored their first points of the season in the first quarter. 

• Gambitta and junior forward Danielle Seamon led the Cardinals with six rebounds apiece. 

Up Next

The Cardinals face SUNY Geneseo at 5:30 p.m. next Friday, Feb. 6.