Box Score l Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- After stretching its lead to 22 points midway through the second half, host Nazareth held off Maine-Fort Kent in the closing minutes to defeat the Bengals 74-64 in a women's non-conference basketball game on Tuesday evening. Senior Ashley Gallagher scored a team-high 14 points for the Golden Flyers. Nazareth demonstrated its scoring depth with 12 different players recording points in Tuesday's contest.

With the victory, the Golden Flyers improve to 8-4 overall. Maine-Fort Kent drops to 1-9 overall following the loss. Nazareth resumes its conference schedule at the Kidera Gymnasium when the Golden Flyers host Alfred on Friday evening and Elmira on Saturday afternoon.

Nazareth opened the first nine minutes of the second half with a 25-12 scoring run to provide the Golden Flyers with a game-high 22-point lead, 62-40. Nazareth scored 10 consecutive points in a span of 2:56 during the run. Senior Brittany TallChief ignited the run with four of Nazareth's first six points. Senior Brittany Wilson had a layup between TallChief's buckets, and the run was capped by a basket apiece by seniors Brittany Patenaude and Erica Shaw.

Thirteen seconds after Shaw's basket, however, the Bengals put together a formidable rally following a 19-3 scoring run spanning about six minutes. Maine-Fort Kent's run cut the Golden Flyers' lead to 65-59 with 4:53 remaining in regulation. During the Bengals' run, Maine-Fort Kent forced Nazareth into eight missed shots and four turnovers.

Wilson scored the next two baskets of the game to reclaim the Golden Flyers' double-digit lead, 69-59, with two minutes to play in the game. After Maine-Fort Kent's scoring run, Nazareth's defense held the Bengals scoreless until the final minute of play. The Golden Flyers forced Maine-Fort Kent into five missed shots and a turnover as the Bengals' rally sputtered.

In the first half, Nazareth built leads of eight points and 10 points to take control of the game. Gallagher scored five consecutive points for the Golden Flyers after converting a three-point play and adding a basket to give Nazareth an early 16-8 lead.

After the Bengals had pulled to within one point of the Golden Flyers three times, Gallagher and sophomore Jessica Huang combined to score the next nine points to provide Nazareth with a 35-25 lead with 1:31 to play in the period. After Gallagher's jumper, Huang connected on a three-point attempt. Gallagher and Huang then traded layups to give Nazareth the double-digit lead. The Golden Flyers settled for a 37-28 lead at halftime.

TallChief and senior Katie Kollar each finished with nine points while sophomore Becca Rumschik scored eight points. Patenaude and Huang finished with seven points and five points, respectively. TallChief collected a game-high 11 rebounds to help Nazareth finish with a 56-44 advantage on the glass.

Three players finished in double figures in scoring for Maine-Fort Kent. Jenna Colpitts tallied a game-high 18 points, followed by Maliesha Caesar with 16 points, and Taylor Boucher with 14 points. Caesar also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.