In a matchup of one-loss teams, New York University held off St. John Fisher College 83-72 in a women's basketball contest on Saturday, December 7, at the Sportsplex in Manhattan. 

The Violets (7-1), who entered the game as the highest-scoring team (92.4 ppg) in NCAA Division III, and the Cardinals (6-2), who are currently ranked #20 in the nation by the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association), went toe-to-toe in the first quarter. Neither team led by more than three points, and the session ended tied 14-14 after the Cardinals' Miranda Lynch hit a long three-pointer just ahead of the buzzer.    

St. John Fisher scored the first two points of the second quarter, but NYU followed with a 9-0 run to finally create some separation. The Cardinals climbed back within three, but NYU ended the quarter by scoring the final final four points and taking a 29-22 lead into halftime.

After being limited to 14 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, Violets' leading scorer Janean Cuffee (New York, NY/The Lawrenceville School) caught fire in the third quarter. Playing the entire session, she scored 10 points as NYU took a 12-point lead, 49-37, before exiting the quarter with a 51-44 advantage.   

The hosts' lead grew to a game-high 14 points, 67-53, on Cuffee's three-point play with 5:03 remaining.

The visitors pulled to within seven points twice in the final minute.  

"They are an excellent team. Well-coached and very disciplined," said Head Coach Meg Barber. "We needed every ounce of what we could give in order to get the win today." 

Cuffee finished with a season-high 37 points, while Brooklyn Shelton (Botetourt, VA/Lord Botetourt) scored 20 and Lauren Koyama (Palo Alto, CA/Palo Alto) had 10.

"Janean is special. As much as she scores she's just as selfless," Barber added. "She's out there working on both ends of the floor doing whatever it takes to help us win." 

Shelton and Lauren Gast (St. Louis, MO/Villa Duchesne) each pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for the Violets. Annie Barrett (Cambridge, MA/Buckingham Browne & Nichols) contributed a game-high eight assists, while Cuffee added seven.

Ella Eckert led St. John Fisher with 15 points.

The Violets return to the Sportsplex for a "road" contest against host Hunter College this Wednesday, December 11. Tip-off is set for 6:00pm.