ONEONTA, NY – Visiting St. John Fisher earned an 87-43 win over Hartwick in Empire 8 women's basketball on Sunday afternoon at Lambros Arena. The Cardinals scored 25 of the game's first 27 points en route to their fifth win of the season. Fisher also improves to 2-1 in conference play. The Hawks fall to 3-8 and 1-3 in the E8 standings.
A swarming Fisher press led to 10 Hartwick turnovers in the opening five and a half minutes of the game and the Cardinals took an early 18-2 advantage. The lead swelled to as many as 33 points late in the first half and the visitors went into halftime leading 53-21. The Cardinals won the rebounding battle 27-14 in the opening stanza and shot 44% to Hartwick's 30%.
In the second half, Fisher maintained a lead of 32 points or better throughout the 20 minute period to close out the victory. The Cardinals converted 30 'Wick turnovers into 35 points on the day and scored 21 second-chance points.
Colleen Maloney's 18 points led her team. Meghan Soja added 13 points, Mary Kate Comfort contributed 12, and Kristi Jeffres registered eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Maloney, Soja, and Stephanie Sweeney combined for 13 of Fisher's 17 steals on the day.
For the Hawks, junior Laneka Brown (Spring Glen, NY/Ellenville) was the only player in double digits with 14 points. She connected on five of her 10 shots from the floor, including a pair of three-point baskets. Krystle Crouse (Canjoharie, NY/Canajoharie) grabbed a team-best nine boards.
The Hawks will look to snap a four-game winless streak next Friday night at Lambros Arena. 'Wick will host Alfred University at 6 p.m. in an Empire 8 Conference game.
