PITTSFORD, N.Y. (January 11, 2014) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team fell to St. John Fisher College, 74-58, in an Empire 8 Conference matchup on Saturday at Bobby Wanzer Court in Pittsford, N.Y.

Stevens is now 8-4 on the season and 2-2 in the Empire 8, while Fisher improves to 8-5 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

The Ducks held a lead of 10-6 with 12:26 to go in the first half, but Fisher scored four unanswered points to knot the contest at 10-10 at the 10:47 mark. After another four-point advantage for Stevens at 14-10 with 7:47 remaining, the Cardinals went on a 27-6 run to close out the half and went into the locker room ahead by 17 points, 37-20.

Fisher continued its run after the break and built its lead to 45-22 just 3:33 into the second stanza. The Ducks cut the deficit down to 18 (48-30) with 13:28 left on the clock, but Fisher responded with a 13-2 run to take its largest lead of the game at 61-32 a little under eight minutes to go in the game. Stevens fought back to within 11 points with 2:10 left in regulation (65-54), but the differential proved to be too much to overcome and the Cardinal came away with the 16-point victory.

Stevens did not shoot particularly well in all three facets of the game – 35.8 percent overall, 30% from three-point range and 46.7% at the free throw line. The Ducks did, however, make more baskets than Fisher (24 to 20), but were minus-19 in free throws (26 to 7) and made five fewer three-pointers (8 to 3).

Senior Avis Benjamin (Queens, N.Y.) and sophomore Dylan Krause (Atlanta, Ga.) both notched 12 points for Stevens in the loss. Benjamin went 6-for-13 in the game with six rebounds and Krause shot 5-for-12 with eight boards, three assists and two steals.

Senior Molly Spadaro (Sewell, N.J.) added nine points off the bench, while senior Lisa Tessitore (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) and freshman Brittany Washington (Iselin, N.J.) each chipped in six points in reserve roles. Washington also grabbed seven rebounds.

Freshman Hannah Brophy (Bridgewater, N.J.) pulled down eight boards.

Fisher was led offensively by Sydney Bloomstein, who tallied 17 points. Mary Kate Cusack posted 15 points and Portia Velasco recorded 14 points on a perfect 10-for-10 from the line. Camaryn Buckner just missed a double-double with nine points and nine boards.

The Ducks are back home on Tuesday, January 14 at 8 p.m. for another Empire 8 contest against Hartwick College in Canavan Arena.

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