No. 25 St. John Fisher Posts 1,000th Overall Win Following Victory Over Clarkson

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PITTSFORD N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College women's basketball team remained undefeated after a close win over Clarkson University Friday night, 66-63, inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium at Bobby Wanzer Court. The Cardinals, who are ranked 25th in the latest D3hoops.com poll, improved to 7-0, while the Golden Knights closed out the evening at 0-8.

The win had added significance as it marked the 1000th all-time win in Fisher's storied history.  Overall, the Cardinals, who are one of just four teams across all of Division III to have at least 1,000 victories in their history, boast a 1,000-294 overall record dating back to 1974.  In all, the team has claimed five Empire 8 Championships, reached the NCAA Championship 15 times overall and finished as the National Runner-up twice.
 
As the game tipped off, Fisher fell behind early 8-3, but the Cardinals got back on track and gained an 11-8 advantage after a pair of three-pointers by Claire Kruszka and Miranda Lynch
 
Fisher closed out the first quarter on an 8-2 run finished by a buzzer beating jumper by Sidney Tomasso to take a 23-17 lead.
 
The Golden Knights kept the game close as both teams rallied back and forth. The Cardinals kept the lead throughout the second quarter and headed into halftime up 36-32.
 
Midway through the third quarter, Fisher started gaining momentum, taking a 12-point lead after a Kaitlyn Walker and-one to take a 49-37 advantage. Walker, who led the Cardinals with 20 points, scored nine in the third.
 
Unconventionally, Fisher struggled from behind the three-point line, leading Coach Kuberka to have the team attack the paint offensively, resulting in Fisher scoring 38 of their 66 points from inside the paint. 
 
The Golden Knights weren't going to go away easily, as they rallied back in the fourth quarter to make it a three-point game with just over three minutes to go. 
 
With just under a minute left, the game was tied 63-63. After an aggressive drive to the basket by Lynch resulted in a shooting foul, she knocked down two free throws to make it a 65-63 lead for the Cardinals. 
 
Down two points, the Golden Knights tried to take the lead with a three-pointer, however, Amy Gardner blocked the shot forcing Clarkson to foul as time was running out. Kruszka made one of two at the line to give the Cardinals a three-point lead up 66-63. 
 
With seconds left to go, Fisher came out of the timeout and pressured Clarkson into a turnover as Lynch was able to steal the ball to secure the Cardinals seventh straight win, 66-63.
 
The Cardinals thrived from the free-throw line, knocking down 13 of 15, including several clutches makes late in the game. 
 
Walker led the team in points with a season-high 20, followed by Kruszka with 14, and Lynch with 11. Walker also led the team in rebounds with 10, followed by Anna Milham and Lauren Nawojski each with eight.
 
The Cardinals plan to stay undefeated as they will be on the road to matchup against Buffalo State on Saturday, December 11th at 5:30 p.m.