PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher women's basketball team had no answer for Brockport guard Stephanie Jean-Baptiste in a 91-84 loss on Saturday afternoon at Manning & Napier Varsity Gym. Fisher dropped to 10-12 overall (7-6 Empire 8 Conference) with the loss, while Brockport moved to 15-7 overall (11-2 Empire 8 Conference) and stayed one game behind Nazareth (12-1 E8) for first place in the conference standings. 

Jean-Baptiste erupted for a Brockport single-game record 41 points while shooting 15-of-19 overall, including 2-of-4 from 3-point territory, and a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line. She finished one point shy of matching the Empire 8 single-game record, which 2016 St. John Fisher Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Melissa Hartman set with 42 points against Medaille in December 2005. Nazareth's Jadyn Abrams tied the record against Russell Sage in February 2020.

In addition to Jean-Baptiste's 41, Brockport got 18 points from Brianna Carey and 13 from Mandy Brink, who added a team-high four assists. Jean-Baptiste's incredible stat line also included eight rebounds and five steals, both team highs. 

Senior guard Presleigh Brunner shot 9-of-14 overall (4-of-6 from three) and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line en route to a team-high 24 points. Senior guard Hannah Ferguson followed with 20 points, freshman guard Natalie Mai chipped in 13 and junior forward Alexa Gibson contributed 12. 

How It Happened 

The Cardinals fell behind by nine just over halfway through the first quarter before using a 13-6 run to tie the game at 21 with 40 seconds left on a 3-pointer from senior guard Julia Perales. Jean-Baptiste, who had nine points in the opening frame, made a layup while getting fouled and completed the 3-point play with a free throw to put Brockport back in front before the quarter ended.

Fisher worked its way back from another nine-point hole in the second quarter. After Brockport took a 40-31 lead, Brunner nailed a 3-pointer, Ferguson made a pair of layups and freshman forward Brianna Heidt sank a pair of foul shots as part of a 9-0 run that tied the game at 40.

Jean-Baptiste, who scored 17 points in the first 20 minutes of play, ended Brockport's scoreless spurt with a layup to give the Golden Eagles a 42-40 lead. Brunner tied the game with a jumper on the ensuing possession, but Carey responded on the other end with a layup to give the Golden Eagles a 44-42 advantage at the break. 

The Golden Eagles took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 16-4 over the first five minutes and change to push their lead to a game-high 14 points, 60-46. Jean-Baptiste had seven points in that stretch, and Carey added five. Brockport ended the frame with an 11-point lead, 65-54. 

The Cardinals trimmed their deficit to four points early in the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run behind five points from Brunner and two apiece from Gibson and junior forward Danielle Seamon. As was the case all day, though, Jean-Baptiste had the answer, as she went on a 5-0 run by herself to push Brockport's lead back to nine, 72-63. She scored 10 more points the rest of the way to finish the fourth quarter with a game's worth of production – 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting – and nail down the victory for the Golden Eagles. 

Game Notes

• Brunner recorded her seventh game this season with 20 points or more. She has scored at least that many in three of the Cardinals' last four contests. 

• Perales matched her career-high with seven assists. 

• Gibson's 12 points marked her most in an Empire 8 game in her collegiate career. 

• Brockport completed the two-game season sweep of Fisher with the victory. 

Up Next

The Cardinals hit the road to face Elmira next Friday, Feb. 13. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.