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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth's women's basketball team returned to the hardwood Sunday following a 13-day layoff and got the second semester started in disappointing  fashion as visiting Pitt-Bradford rallied for a 76-67 victory over the Golden Flyers in non-conference action.
 
Trailing by four points, 41-37, at halftime, the Panthers rallied to outscore the Golden Flyers, 39-26, over the final 20 minutes to even its overall record at 4-4. Nazareth dropped to 3-7 overall. Nazareth returns to its Empire 8 Conference schedule this weekend with home games Friday (vs. Hartwick at 8 p.m.) and Saturday (vs. Stevens at 4 p.m.).
 
Nazareth shot the ball well in the first half to take a 41-37 advantage. The Golden Flyers made 17 of 30 shots (56.7 percent) from the outside, including 5 of 10 three-pointers. Sophomores Michelle Melanson (9) and Hannah Runyon (8) combined for 17 points. Geena Sneeringer scored 14 points for the Panthers and went 8 for 10 from the free-throw line.
 
The Golden Flyers led by as many as 11 points, 32-21, following a three-pointer by Runyon with 6:19 left in the half.
 
The Panthers opened the second half with a 23-8 scoring run to turn the four-point deficit into a 60-49 lead. The Panthers hit three straight three-pointers -- one by Allison Osborne and two by Melanie Yanetsko -- to fuel the rally.
 
Nazareth couldn't recover as the Panthers' lead grew to 69-55 following a three-pointer by Alicia Kimmel with 4:54 left. A 10-3 scoring run for Nazareth enabled the Golden Flyers to close within 72-65 with less than two minutes to play. Pitt-Bradford preserved the win by hitting free throws in the closing minute. Abby Brate made two with :41 left, then Sneeringer sank two more with :19 left.

Pitt-Bradford had four players score in double figures led by Sneeringer's 19. Kimmel added 18, Yantesko 13 and Osborne 11. Runyon made four three-pointers for Nazareth and was the team's scoring leader with 14. Sophomore Maria Allocco added 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds.