HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The No. 6-seeded St. John Fisher women's basketball team's 2025-26 season came to an end on Saturday afternoon with a 78-53 loss to No. 3-seeded Houghton in the opening round of the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament. 

This marks the first time since the 2016-17 season that the Cardinals (12-14 overall) failed to win a game in the E8 Tournament. Houghton (21-5) will face No. 7-seeded Elmira, which upset No. 2-seeded SUNY Brockport in its first-round game, in the E8 semifinals on Wednesday.

The Cardinals struggled offensively in the contest, shooting 29.5% overall (18-of-61) and 14.3% from 3-point range (2-of-14). Houghton finished 42.9% from the field (30-of-70) and 36% from three (9-of-25). 

Senior guard Presleigh Brunner led the Cardinals with 13 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Danielle Seamon was the only other Cardinal to score in double figures, chipping in 10 points. 

Tabitha DeVries scored a game-high 17 points for Houghton while shooting an efficient 8-of-14 overall (1-of-1 from three). Four other Highlanders scored more than 10 points, as Hannah Farley had 15, Karina Crouse added 12 and Teghan Trocki, who knocked down three triples, contributed 11. Emma Huedepohl tallied an impressive nine assists. DeVries, Crouse and Trocki each pulled down six rebounds. 

How It Happened

The Cardinals jumped out to an 11-2 lead behind seven points from Brunner, but the Highlanders outscored them 12-0 over the final four minutes of the opening quarter to take a one-point lead, 14-13. 

Houghton took control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 25-10 to go into halftime with a 39-23 lead. Farley had six points in the frame, while Crouse and Trocki each had five apiece. 

The Highlanders pushed their lead to as many as 26 in the third quarter and 28 in the fourth quarter. DeVries scored 11 of her 17 points for the game in the second half.