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ROCHESTER, NY - Nazareth came back from a 16-point first-half deficit to defeat visiting Elmira 53-49 in Empire 8 women's basketball action Friday at the Kidera Gymjnasium. The Golden Flyers improved to 9-8, 3-5 in the Empire 8 while the Soaring Eagles fell to 1-14, 0-7.

After a dismal first half that included a scoreless stretch that lasted more than nine minutes, Nazareth recovered in the second half. Nazareth made just 5 of 23 first-half shots (21.7 percent) and 6 of 15 free throws (40 percent) and trailed 31-15 following a three-point play by Elmira's Becca Fretz with 2:07 left.

Nazareth's Brittany Tallchief made two free throws, but Elmira's Amanda Lawlor answered with a free throw in the closing seconds to give the Soaring Eagles a 32-17 lead at the break.

Nazareth opened the second half with 12 straight points to surge back into the game. Seniors Rachel Pirozzolo and Kelly Dunne each made three-pointers, Ashley Gallagher made two baskets and Jenee Vanderstyne completed the run with a drive to the basket for a layup with 14:32 left to make the score 32-29.

Elmira responded with a run of its own to go back up by nine, 40-31, but Nazareth used a 16-1 run tosecure the lead for good. A three-pointer by Kylie Bartlett with 8:45 left gave Nazareth its first lead, 41-40, since early in the game. Bartlett later converted a pair of free throws with 7:33 left to make the score 43-41 and the Golden Flyers never trailed again.

Elmira, however, stayed close and drew within three points, 52-49, following a basket by Lawlor with :41 left. After Nazareth missed a shot, Elmira had an opportunity to tie the game, but a three-point attempt by Tasia Kaczynski was blocked by Nazareth's Katie Kollar in the closing seconds.

Pirozzolo led the Flyers with 11 points, including eight in the first half. Gallagher finished with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.  She also had two blocks.  Brittany Wilson had eight points and seven rebounds while Dunne finished with seven points. Elmira was led by Fretz and Erin Rupell with 14 points each. 

Nazareth travels to St. John Fisher on Tuesday, January 26th for a 6 p.m. Empire 8 match-up.