UTICA, NY – Senior point guard Ashley Mayo (Bronx, NY/Nanuet) of the Utica College women's basketball team netted a career-high 33 points but it was not enough as visiting St. John Fisher topped the Pioneers 65-53 in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams on Tuesday night at the Clark Athletic Center.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 19-14 first quarter lead but the Cardinals held UC to just five second quarter points and held on in the second half to earn the victory. Utica's record moved to 4-6 overall and 0-1 in league play while SJFC improved to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the E8.

Mayo made 13-of-23 field goals on the afternoon and also posted four steals for the Pioneers.  Ashelyne Babb (Lynn, MA/Winthrop) chipped in with eight points and five steals.

Caroline Robertson led the Cardinals with 17 points, while Nicole Robinson added 12 points and six rebounds. Liga Kalnina came off the bench and grabbed 15 boards for Fisher.

Utica jumped out to a 19-9 lead with 1:15 to go in the first quarter of action. Fisher answered with a 19-0 run in the next 7:46 of action to take a 28-19 lead with 3:29 left in the first half of play. The Pioneers managed to cut their deficit to six points, 30-24, as the halftime horn sounded.

Fisher pushed its lead back to double-digits in the second half and led by 12, 51-39, with 6:56 to go in the fourth quarter. The Pioneers made one final push and trailed by just six points, 52-46, with 5:38 left in regulation, but it proved to be too late as the Cardinals were strong down the stretch and earned a 12-point victory.

The Pioneers return to the hardwood at home on Friday night when they host Nazareth College in Empire 8 Conference play at 8 p.m.

Alaina Tripp (Clyde, NY/Clyde-Savannah) and Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) each finished the night with three points, while Coralynn Maxwell (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) added four points. Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) chipped in with five rebounds and two points in the post for Utica.