Displaying the heart and resolve of a world champion, Allison Fisher rebounded from a 5-2 deficit to topple upset-minded Nikki Benish, 7-5, early Sunday afternoon to keep her hopes of defending her national title at the WPBA Brunswick Billiards Nationa l 9-Ball Championship in Red Wing, Minn. Fisher advances to play Jeanette Lee in the semi-final. Undefeated Gerda Hofstatter awaits the winner of the Fisher/Lee tilt for the championship finale of the $85,000 tournament.

Lacking the sharpness that t ypifies her game, Fisher struggled in the early going againts Benish, missing several shots and playing some less-than-stellar safes. At one point, Fisher hooked herself on a "push-out." Benish, meanwhile, appeared relaxed and confident, working her way t o a three-game edge in the race-to-seven match taped for airing on ESPN.

"It was a little messy at the start," said Fisher. "Then midway through the match I missed a shot that I knew I shouldn't have tried. I was thinking negatively. I sat down and told myself that if I don't get a positive attitude, I'm not going to be able to come back. Toward the end, I played much better."

"I felt I was in control," noted Benish, who will earn $4,500 for fourth place. "But Allison got stronger late in the match, and I didn't get any opportunities. But I played well from start to finish, so I'm not too disappointed."