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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Host RIT outscored Nazareth 30-18 in the second half to rally past the Golden Flyers 61-56 in a women's Empire 8 conference basketball game Tuesday evening. Junior Brittany Wilson finished with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Golden Flyers.

Following the loss, Nazareth drops to 4-6 in Empire 8 contests and 8-11 overall. The Tigers improve to 2-8 in conference games and 4-15 overall. The Golden Flyers remain in fifth place in the Empire 8 standings as they continue to battle for a spot in the upcoming conference tournament, February 25-26. Utica presently holds the fourth and final tournament position with a 5-3 conference record.

Down by as many as 13 points in the first half and by seven, 38-31, at halftime, RIT opened the second half with a 4-0 run to trim its deficit to 38-35. Midway through the second half, the Tigers went on a 10-0 scoring run that spanned roughly four minutes that resulted in RIT claiming a 47-43 lead. The Tigers' Mallory Apperson had two baskets during the run and capped it with a layup.

After the Tigers stretched their lead to two possessions, Wilson's basket cut Nazareth's deifict to 53-51 with 4:30 remaining in regulation. Two minutes later, junior Danielle Chamberlain connected on a three-point attempt to bring the Golden Flyers within one point, 55-54. Each time Nazareth tried to rally, however, RIT answered to maintain its lead. In the final minute, the Tigers secured its victory by converting 4-6 free throw attempts and forcing Nazareth into two turnovers.

RIT's defense stiffened in the second half by limiting the Golden Flyers to shooting 6-26 (23 percent) from the field after allowing Nazareth to shoot 13-28 (46 percent) in the first 20 minutes.

In the first half, the Golden Flyers offense was led by junior Katie Kollar and sophomore Jenee Vanderstyne as they scored 16 of Nazareth's first 20 points to give the Golden Flyers a 20-8 lead 6:38 into the game. Kollar finished with all 15 of her points in the first half to help Nazareth maintain its early lead. WIlson gave the Golden Flyers their largest lead of the game, 31-18, following a layup.

The Tigers trimmed Nazareth's lead with quick scoring runs. After RIT scored eight points in a row to cut its deficit to 35-31, Kollar answered with a three-point attempt in the closing seconds of the period as the Golden Flyers settled for a seven-point lead at the break.

Vanderstyne finished with seven points and four assists while Chamberlain recorded six points.

Leslie Havens was the Tigers' top scorer with 15 points. Kayla Wheeler and Apperson finished with 12 points and 11 points, respectively. After surrendering a 22-18 rebound advantage to Nazareth in the first half, the Tigers outrebounded the Golden Flyers 24-14 to complete their rally.

Nazareth continues its Empire 8 schedule Saturday when the Golden Flyers travel to Elmira.