ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Visiting St. John Fisher outscored Nazareth 21-7 in a decisive third quarter Monday as the Cardinals pulled away for a 66-46 women's basketball victory over Nazareth at the Kidera Gymnasium.

The game marked the season opener for both teams and the first competition for either team in nearly a full calendar year. Fisher, the defending Empire 8 Conference champion, led 29-21 at halftime and never trailed in the second half. Junior Jadyn Abrams was Nazareth's high scorer with 16 points. Kim Davis added 12 points and a team-best eight rebounds.

Fisher was solid defensively in limiting Nazareth to 26.2 percent shooting (17-for-65) for the game, including just 18.2 percent (4-for-22) from three-point range. The Cardinals also had a 51-39 advantage in rebounding with 17 of those boards coming at the offensive end.

Down 29-21 at halftime, Nazareth got two baskets from Abrams to start the third quarter to close within 31-25, but Fisher went on a 16-0 scoring run to increase the lead to 47-25 with 1:53 left in the third. The scoring was balanced with Kaitlyn Walker (13 points) scoring four points during the scoring run and Claire Kruszka and Miranda Lynch each hitting three-pointers.

The Cardinals led 50-28 heading into the fourth quarter and Nazareth was unable to trim the lead to single digits despite three-point baskets by Abrams and Davis, who added four blocks, three assists and two steals.

Walker was Fisher's high scorer with 13 points. Hannah Morse added 12.