Rochester, NY— Senior guard Emily Parslow (Fonda, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) scored a career high 35 points to lead The Sage Colleges to a 78-62 Empire 8 women's basketball victory over host Nazareth College at Kidera Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. The Gators improved to 7-6 overall and 2-2 in the Empire 8, while the Golden Flyers fell to 8-5 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
Parslow made 14 of 16 free throws in the game and played all 40 minutes. She had six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Her previous game points high was 24 vs. RPI earlier this season. Parslow moved up to eighth all-time at Sage with 168 made free throws, and her 1,171 career points leaves her just 28 away from third.
Sage junior forward Megan Flynn (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls Central) posted a double-double with 10 points and a team high 11 rebounds while freshman guard Sammy Pasinella (Troy, NY/Mechanicville) had career highs of 12 points and four assists. Senior guard Macie Holmes (Amsterdam, NY/Mekeel Christian Academy) added 11 points for the Gators, who shot 40%, and 81% from the line.
Rachel Benedict led the Golden Flyers with 24 points and a game high 15 rebounds. Demetrai Woodard scored 12 points and Elizabeth White and Lizzie Straub had 11 each for Nazareth, which had a 47-42 rebounding edge and was held to 28% shooting from the floor by the strong Sage defense.
The Gators led 17-15 after the first period, then got hot in the second and led by as many as 13. Sage led 32-19 with 4:48 remaining in the first half after a three-pointer by Parslow. She had a game high 17 points at the end of the first half. She matched her previous career high of 24 points with her second made free throw with 1:51 left in the third. In that quarter, the Golden Flyers pulled to within two at 47-45 with 3:38 left on a free throw by Miyah Sizer. But the Gators went on a 8-3 run to lead 58-48 after the third quarter. Naz got to within nine (70-61) with 1:59 to play, but the 8-1 Sage run to close out the game featured all eight points coming on the charity stripe.
Sage continues Empire 8 play Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Stevens. Nazareth hosts Alfred in league action at 5:30 p.m.
