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ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Senior Rachel Pirozzolo connected on a three-point shot with 1:21 left in regulation to give the visiting Golden Flyers a 53-52 lead and put Nazareth ahead for the remainder of the game. The Golden Flyers improve to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8 following Friday night's 57-54 victory. Following the loss, Elmira falls to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

On Nazareth's first possession of the game, senior Kelly Dunne connected on a layup to give the Golden Flyers the early 2-0 lead. Fueled by three-point baskets by senior Kylie Bartlett and Pirozzolo, Nazareth increased its lead to eight points, 16-8, at the 11:18 mark of the first half. Bartlett's second three-pointer, with 2:01 left in the first half, gave the Golden Flyers a game-high nine-point lead. The Soaring Eagles trimmed Nazareth's lead to five points, 26-21, by scoring the final four points of the half.

Three minutes into the second half, Elmira tied the score, 29-29, following a layup by Becca Fretz. The next two minutes featured two ties and two lead changes as the Soaring Eagles and Golden Flyers traded baskets. Sophomore Brittany Patenaude gave Nazareth a six-point lead with just under 10 minutes remaining as she connected on a three-point shot.

As in the first half, Elmira trimmed the Golden Flyers' lead as the Soaring Eagles connected on layup and free throw opportunities. With 7:05 to play in the second half, Elmira took a 46-45 lead following two free throws by Becky Peterman. About a minute later, the Soaring Eagles took a five-point lead as they scored back-to-back baskets.

Determined to avoid the upset, Nazareth embarked on an 8-2 scoring run and took a 53-52 lead. The run was capped off by Pirozzolo's three-point basket with 1:21 to play. Dunne also connected on a three-point shot and sophomore Katie Kollar added a two-point jumper during the scoring run. Dunne tallied the Golden Flyers' final four points of the game to help Nazareth maintain its lead.

Dunne finished with a team-high 14 points, followed by Pirozzolo with 11 points. Bartlett added 10 points off the Golden Flyers' bench while Patenaude had a team-high 10 rebounds. Sophomore Brittany Tallchief also added eight rebounds for Nazareth. Sophomore Brittany Wilson, who was recently named the E8 Conference Player of the Week, played only 14 minutes and was held scoreless as she injured her ankle midway through the game.

Amanda Lawlor was Elmira's top scorer with a game-high 15 points. Fretz and Peterman added 13 points and 10 points, respectively. Erin Rupell finished with a game-high 14 rebounds for the Soaring Eagles.

Elmira finished with a 45-40 edge in rebounds, but the Golden Flyers held the Soaring Eagles to a 30.2 field goal percentage. Nazareth finished with a field goal percentage of 37.5, but were 10-21 (47.6%) from beyond the three-point arc.

The Golden Flyers host Utica at 12 p.m. Sunday in another Empire 8 contest.