Box Score Box l Updated stats
ONEONTA, N.Y. -- Visiting Nazareth fell to Hartwick 66-49 in a women's Empire 8 basketball contest on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Flyers' freshman Maria Allocco finished with a double-double as she recorded 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Hawks converted 24-31 free throw attempts to pull away from Nazareth.

Following the loss, the Golden Flyers fall to 9-7 overall and 2-4 in conference games. Nazareth slides to sixth place in the Empire 8 standings with the loss. The Golden Flyers host St. John Fisher, currently 2-2 in Empire 8 games and in fourth place in the standings, in a pivotal game on Tuesday evening. Hartwick improves to 13-3 overall with the victory. The Hawks presently sit in second place in the E8 standings with a 5-1 conference record.

Nazareth had an 8-5 lead 3:30 into the game following a basket by Allocco. Allocco had six of the Golden Flyers first eight points as she was perfect on her first three shots from the field. The Hawks took the lead for good midway through the half with an 18-6 scoring run that gave Hartwick a 23-14 advantage.
 
Nazareth answered with a 7-0 scoring run spanning 3:34 to cut its deficit to two points, however, the Hawks answered with consecutive baskets to reclaim its multiple possession lead. Allocco started Nazareth's run with a free throw and senior Brittany Patenaude followed with a layup after collecting an offensive rebound. Senior Ashley Gallagher added two free throws and senior Brittany Wilson capped the run with a layup. A basket by Hartwick's Maria Foglia provided the Hawks with a 37-28 lead at the break.
 
In the second half, the Golden Flyers trimmed their deficit to seven points twice after Hartwick extended its lead to double-digits. Allocco and Patenaude each had layups to cut the Hawks' lead to 39-32 just over three minutes into the second period. Hartwick's advantage swelled to 13 points before Wilson had a steal and drew a foul. Wilson was one of two on the her trip to the charity stripe to bring Nazareth to within seven points again, 49-42, with about six minutes to play in regulation. Wilson's free throw finished a run of seven straight points that the senior recorded for the Golden Flyers.
 
The Hawks sealed their victory by converting 9-10 free throw opportunities in the final minutes of action. Hartwick finished the contest with making 24-31 (77 percent) free throws for an overwhelming advantage from the charity stripe. The Golden Flyers were 8-12 (67 percent) on their free throws.
 
Following a three-point basket by senior Katie Kollar with 2:26 left to play, Hartwick's defense held Nazareth's offense scoreless in the final minutes. The Hawks' defense entered Saturday's game holding opponents to shooting under 34 percent. The Golden Flyers' settled for shooting about 37 percent (19-52) from the field. Hartwick also forced Nazareth into 17 turnovers.
 
Wilson finished with a team-high 13 points and eight rebounds for the Golden Flyers. Patenaude and Kollar finished with nine points and six points, respectively. Nazareth finished with a 37-32 advantage on the glass thanks to the 18 combined rebounds by Allocco and Wilson.
 
Foglia was the only player that Nazareth allowed to finish in double figures as she recorded a game-high 23 points. The Golden Flyers allowed Foglia to shoot just 4-14 from the field, but Foglia converted 13-15 free throws for the majority of her points. Foglia came into Saturday's game as the Hawks' leading scorer averaging 15.5 points per game.