The Hamilton College Continentals received a career-high 35 points from guard Kelcie Zarle '22, but lost 76-69 against the St. John Fisher College Cardinals in non-conference action at Hamilton's Margaret Bundy Scott Field House on Saturday afternoon.

Zarle went toe-to-toe with St. John Fisher guard Claire Kruszka and put on an entertaining duel for the fans.

The Cardinals (2-0 overall) bookended the first half with sizable runs and built a comfortable halftime lead. St. John Fisher opened up a 14-3 lead in the opening 3:09 of the first quarter thanks to scorching 3-point shooting. The Cardinals finished the quarter with a 30-16 advantage.

Hamilton (1-1) grew into the game in the second quarter with a renewed sense of defensive intensity. Led by Zarle's activity on both ends of the floor, the Continentals cut their deficit to 11 points at 36-25 with 3:41 left. St. John Fisher responded promptly and finished the half with an 11-1 run for a 47-26 halftime lead. The run was keyed by two 3-pointers by Miranda Lynch, who finished the game with 11 points. Kruszka dominated the frame for the Cardinals, controlling the boards, setting up her teammates, and getting wherever she wanted on the offensive end. Kruszka finished the day with a loaded stat line of 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Continentals failed to cut into the Cardinals' lead in the third quarter, but found a rhythm on the offensive end. Maria Mercado Rengel '24 (eight points) and Tessa Cole '25 (11 points) provided complimentary scoring for Zarle, who continued to be the catalyst for Hamilton's offense by bombarding the rim with floaters and layups, and displaying an innate ability to get to the free-throw line.

St. John Fisher carried a 67-46 advantage into the fourth quarter, but the Continentals finally found its footing on the defensive end and compiled enough stops to cut into the Cardinals' lead. With 4:16 remaining, Zarle hit a spectacular driving floater on the right side of the hoop and drilled the ensuing free throw to cut the deficit to 69-57. The play was emblematic of Zarle's performance, as she willed her team back into the game with energy, heart and a dogged determination.

On the heels of a few more tough buckets by Zarle, Hamilton cut St. John Fisher's lead to five with 12 seconds remaining, but the Continentals didn't get any closer. Zarle finished 13 of 25 from the field and 8-for-11 at the free-throw line. Claire Sehring '22 controlled the interior with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Hamilton aims to bounce back on Friday, Nov. 19 against Framingham State University in Williams College's Morin Memorial Classic.