Score: St. John Fisher College 58, Elmira College 50
Records: Elmira (4-8, 0-3 E8), St. John Fisher (9-5, 3-2 E8)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's basketball team hung tough with Empire 8 Conference foe St. John Fisher on Tuesday evening, but a cold shooting touch in the second half stifled the Purple and Gold's offense, as the Cardinals were able to steal a 58-50 win in Speidel Gymnasium.

EC kept pace with St. John Fisher for the majority of the contest, but struggled to take the lid off of the basket as the game wound down, shooting 21.4-percent (3-for-14) from the floor in the final period of action. Despite the shooting woes, the Purple and Gold played tough defense against the Cardinals potent attack, as they forced St. John Fisher to go 4-for-21 (19.0%) from beyond the arc. Turnovers plagued Elmira all evening, as the Cardinals generated 15 points off of EC's miscues.

St. John Fisher ended the contest with a trio of players in double figures, as Ella Eckert (14), Sydney Masna (12) and Julia Mertsock (11) were able to break through Elmira's stout defensive set-up. Lindsey Heaton'19 and Alyssa Waters '22 paced EC's offense with 17 and 11 points, respectively.

The Soaring Eagles slipped behind by seven points with three minutes to play in the first quarter, but a 5-0 run highlighted by a finish through a foul from Sally Hogan '19 kept the Cardinals in check. A trey from Heaton with 15 seconds left on the clock sent EC into the second period down by two, 18-16. Fisher attempted to pull away at the start of the second quarter with an 8-0 run to open the period. Waters brought the barrage to a screeching halt with a 3-pointer, before adding a smooth jumper to make it 29-21. The teams traded blows as time wound down, but Masna had the final say in the opening half with a layup to send EC into the break trailing 31-24.

The Purple and Gold got the better of their feathered foes in the third quarter, as they outscored the visitors, 14-11. Following a back and forth start, EC snuck ahead of the Cardinals, 41-38, near the three-minute mark following a pair of free throws from Heaton. However, St. John Fisher reclaimed the lead as time expired. The Cardinals pulled away in the fourth, as they held EC to nine points in the final 10 minutes of action. Fisher took a three point lead early in the period, but a lay-in from Rachel Vespucci '19 pulled EC back within one with 7:32 left to play. The Cardinals defense ratcheted down from there, as the Purple and Gold couldn't muster a comeback effort.

News and Notes

• St. John Fisher held a slim edge on the glass, 41-40.
• Tonight's contest marked the second time this season the Purple and Gold have shot 80-percent from the free throw line.
• Heaton went a perfect 8-for-8 (100%) from the charity stripe.
• Bridget Yaw '20 dished a season-high six assists.
• Hogan finished with seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.

 
Up Next
Elmira continues E8 play on the road this Friday, January 18, when the Soaring Eagles head to Oneonta, New York, to challenge Hartwick. Tip-off against the Hawks is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.