Brockport, NY – The Sage College's women's basketball team opened the new season and a new era on Saturday competing in the Brockport State Tip-Off Tournament. The contest marked the debut of rookie head coach Allison Coleman. After a competitive second half, the Gators fell short in the season-opener, dropping the contest 60-47 to Nazareth College.

Nazareth led 38-19 at the break, but a strong second half saw the Gators pull within striking distance in the second half. Sage's sophomore guard Frankie Pearson (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) added a pair of free throws to pull the team within 11 points, down 58-47 at 2:20, but the Golden Flyers held on to win the contest, despite Sage outscoring them 28-22 in the second stanza of play.

Senior Megan Bowman (Dannemora, NY/Saranac) finished the contest with a team-best 14 points and hauled in seven rebounds with three assists, two blocks and four steals. Junior forward Sara Tironi (Cambridge, NY/Cambridge Central) led the Gators on the boards with 14 caroms, including 11 offensive boards and put down nine points in the action. Senior forward Carlee Hirt (Beacon, NY/John Jay) added six points and six rebounds off the bench for the Gators.

Bowman now has 727 career points and moves ahead of Elizabeth Boland (721 points, 1983-1987), on the all-time career scoring list and stands at the No. 10 spot entering tomorrow's contest. She has also racked up 322 career assists and 187 career steals, good enough for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively in program history in the two categories.

Nazareth got a double-double from Lindsey Kelly as she had 18 points with 11 rebounds and was 9-15 from the floor. Sam Sorge added nine points with three steals for the Golden Flyers.

Sage will meet Alfred University in the final day of the tournament at noon on November 16. The Gators will host SUNY-Cobleskill on November 22 in the team's 2014-2015 home opener in Kahl Gym at 2 p.m.