ROCHESTER, NY- The Alfred University women's basketball team concluded their regular season with a 90-65 loss versus St. John Fisher College on Wednesday from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr Athletic Center. The Saxons finished the regular season with a 2-6 (2-5 Empire 8) overall record, while the Cardinals improved to 8-2 (6-1 Empire 8).

The Saxons were led by first-year guard Leah Harkenrider (Hornell, NY/Hornell), who recorded a season-high five shots from beyond the arc. Harkenrider ended with 17 points and three steals. First-year guard Grace Rittenhouse (Dansville, NY/Dansville) totaled 11 points to go with five rebounds. Senior guard Lyndsey McCoy (Middleburgh, NY/Middleburgh Central) added 10 points, as the Saxons finished 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field.

The Cardinals leaned on sophomore forward Kaitlyn Walker, who ended with a game-high 21 points. Junior guard Amy Gardner contributed with an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double performance, as SJFC ended 49.4 percent (38-of-77) from the field.

"I certainly think we've shown a lot of growth over the last week," Head Coach Mike Moskowitz said. "Fisher is tough physically and tactically. We stuck with them for a good portion of the game and have a lot to be proud of."

Alfred set the pace early on, relying on three-point shots from Harkenrider and McCoy for nine of the team's opening 11 points. An 11-2 run by SJFC forced the game to an 18-18 tie at the end of the first quarter. Hakenrider and McCoy continued to guide the Saxons from beyond the arc, hitting consecutive three-point shots to open the second quarter. Multiple lead changes resulted in the Saxons holding onto a 36-33 advantage at halftime.

The Cardinals began the second half with a 17-7 run to build themselves a seven-point lead. Back-to-back baskets from Rittenhouse kept the Saxons within reach. An additional run by SJFC to close out the third quarter placed Alfred in a 60-48 deficit. The Saxons relied on early shots from junior guard Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) and first-year guard Karly Welty (Portville, NY/Portville) in the early stages of the final quarter. The Cardinals retaliated with consistent offense, and successfully fought off Alfred's offense.

"We know that we're good enough to compete with the top teams in the league," Moskowitz said. "We are so thankful and appreciative that we get to continue to do what we love: Playing basketball together."

The Saxons enter the Empire 8 Tournament as the #3 seed. The team will re-visit St. John Fisher College on Thursday, April 8^th in the semifinals.