Albany, NY— Rachel Benedict scored 22 points and added eight rebounds to lead Nazareth College to a 66-61 Empire 8 women's basketball victory over The Sage Colleges at Kahl Gym Friday night. The Golden Flyers improved to 13-6 overall and 8-2 in the Empire 8, while the Gators fell to 10-9 overall and 5-5 in the league.

 

Miyah Sizer scored 11 points and Erica Bradley added 10 for Nazareth, which shot 44% in each half and thus for the game. The Golden Flyers forced 24 turnovers and Sizer also had three steals. 

 

Junior forward Megan Flynn (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) matched her career high with 15 rebounds and scored 20 points to lead Sage. Her career high of 15 was set last January vs. St. John Fisher. She had her fifth double-double of the season. Senior guard Emily Parslow (Fonda, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) scored a team best 22 points, matching Benedict for the game high. Freshman forward Giuliana Pritchard (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) who had five assists and five steals for Sage, and Flynn led a commanding 42-31 rebounding advantage. Sage shot 38%.

 

The teams were tied at 12-12 after the first. The guests went up by eight points twice, including 30-22, with 1:46 left in the half, and led 30-24 at halftime. Sage had a strong third quarter, outscoring the Golden Flyers, 26-14 and it was 50-44 Sage entering the final period. But Nazareth went on a 13-4 run and Benedict made all is of her free throws in the final 22 seconds to seal the victory.

 

The Gators will return to action Saturday, February 2 to host St. John Fisher for an Empire 8 game at 3 p.m. Nazareth plays Saturday at Stevens in league play at 3 p.m.