GETTYSBURG, Pa.–The Swarthmore College women's basketball team began 2017 with a 75-61 loss to the St. John Fisher Cardinals at the Gettysburg Tournament on Monday, Jan. 2.

Despite limiting its opponents to 13 percent shooting from three-point range, including an 0-for-9 mark in the first half, Swarthmore was unable to best the Cardinals and fell to 1-8 on the season.

Melanie Ackerman shot 50 percent from the field and led the way with 15 points as Maggie O'Neil chipped in 10 with seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Swarthmore led 19-16 after the first quarter behind five points from Abigail Pirron and four apiece by Ackerman and Raina Williams.

In the second, St. John Fisher built an advantage at 28-21 before Elizabeth Stiles spurred a 7-0 run to tie the game.  Three consecutive points from Kayla Sembly gave Swarthmore a lead at 31-30 and O'Neil later hit a trey with 1:14 remaining to make it 34 apiece. The Cardinals took a narrow, 37-34 lead into the locker room after a last-second layup on the fastbreak.

The Garnet offense struggled in the third period with only six points and one made field goal. Entering the final quarter, St. John Fisher led 56-40 and established control of the game. Ackerman notched eight points and Swarthmore outscored its opponents 21-19 in the fourth, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

Swarthmore looks to bounce back quickly when it concludes tournament action against Juniata on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 4 p.m.