Pittsford, NY – Freshman forward Sydney Przygoda (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) registered her 12^thdouble-double of the season but it was not enough as the Utica College women's basketball team lost to host St. John Fisher College 63-49 in Empire 8 Conference action at Manning Napier Varsity Gymnasium on Tuesday night. Przygoda finished the evening with 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Pioneers. 

UC's record fell to 6-13 overall and 1-9 in conference play. The host Cardinals improved to 11-6 overall and 5-3 in the E8. 

It was all Fisher to begin the game as the Cardinals stormed out to a quick 9-0 lead after knocking down four of their first six shots from the field.  The Pioneers survived the run, however, and climbed back into contention courtesy of a 9-2 burst of their own that made it a three-point game, 12-9 in Fisher's favor. Fisher stretched its lead to nine with 2:01 to go in the first quarter, but UC's Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) connected on a 3-pointer with 1:38 left in the frame to make it a six point ball game through ten minutes of action.  

The home team pushed its lead to as many as 15 points, 31-16, midway through the second quarter but the Pioneers answered with a 10-2 run to cut their deficit to seven points, 33-26, following two free throws from sophomore Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancey Memorial) with 1:23 to go before the half.  

Fisher came out hot in the second half and pushed its lead to 18 points, 50-32, with 4:17 to go in the third.  The Cardinals outscored the Pioneers 17-10 in the frame to earn the 52-36 lead headed into the fourth and final quarter. The Pioneers outscored the Cardinals 13-11 in the final 10 minutes but it proved to be too late as the Cardinals earned the win and the regular season series sweep. 

Utica's Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) finished with 12 points and added six rebounds, while point guard Nicolette Conkin (Los Altos, CA/Homestead) chipped in with seven points and three assists in 40 minutes of work. Kimberly Soriano (Queens, NY/Monsignor McClancey Memorial) added seven points in her sixth straight start, while forward Briannah Florian (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) recorded six rebounds. 

12 different players scored for the Cardinals, led by Ella Eckert who posted her first-career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.  
 
The Pioneers will enjoy a weekend off to rest and rehabilitate before the final push. UC has six regular season games remaining.  Utica will have a week off and returns home on Tuesday, February 5th to take on Sage at 5:30 p.m.