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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Senior Katie Kollar's three-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the back rim, and visiting Hartwick held on to defeat Nazareth 56-53 in a women's Empire 8 Conference basketball game on Friday evening. Kollar and fellow seniors Erica Shaw and Brittany Patenaude also tallied 12 points apiece to lead the Golden Flyers' offense.


With three seconds remaining in regulation, Patenaude drove to the basket and converted the layup. On the ensuing inbounds play, Nazareth forced the Hawks into throwing the ball away in the corner of the backcourt. After getting the ball in play, Kollar dribbled to her left, side-stepped a fallen Hartwick defender, and put her game-tying attempt up just before the buzzer sounded. Kollar's desperation shot was on target but just a touch long, and it bounced off the back iron. Kollar had connected on all three of her prior attempts from beyond the arc.

Following the loss, Nazareth drops to 11-11 overall and 4-8 in conference games. Hartwick improves its record to 20-3 overall and 11-1 in Empire 8 contests. With the the Ducks' victory over St. John Fisher on Friday, Stevens eliminates the Golden Flyers from qualifying for the Empire 8 tournament. Stevens currently stands three games in front of Nazareth for the final playoff spot with just two conference games remaining. The Golden Flyers host the Ducks on Saturday afternoon.

Nazareth trailed by 13 points, 34-21, in the first five minutes of the second half. Patenaude ignited the Golden Flyers' rally with a layup. Shaw spurred Nazareth's comeback with 10 of the team's next 12 points. Shaw connected on a three-pointer and consecutive layups before senior Brittany Wilson's layup. After Wilson's bucket, Shaw forced the Hawks into a jump-ball and the Golden Flyers took over on the alternate possession. Shaw kept Nazareth's run going with her second three, which trimmed the Golden Flyers' deficit to two points, 40-38, with 8:49 left to play.

Hartwick scored on its next possession to rebuild its multiple possession lead, however, the Golden Flyers scored five straight points to tie the game for the first time since midway through the first half. Wilson had Nazareth's first basket and Kollar's shot from outside the arc tied the game with five and half minutes to play in the period. A steal by senior Ashley Gallagher set up Kollar's three-point opportunity.

Josafine Vincents had two free throws to reclaim the Hawks' slim lead. Vincents finished 7-7 from the charity stripe in the final 4:39 for Hartwick. Shaw answered the first two free throws by Vincent with two free throws of her own to tie the game at 47 apiece. Following a steal by Patenaude in Nazareth's backcourt, the Golden Flyers were whistled for a controversial offensive foul as they brought the ball up court. Nazareth's defense maintained its intensity, and Kollar collected the rebound from Hartwick's eventual missed shot. The Hawks had grabbed two offensive rebounds prior to the foul to keep the Golden Flyers on defense.

A layup by senior Brittany TallChief brought Nazareth to within three points after a quick 5-0 run by the Hawks. TallChief's basket was made possible by a pass by Wilson after she drove toward the basket. Hartwick built its lead back to five points, 56-51, in the final 14 seconds after Maria Foglia converted 1-2 free throw attempts. The Hawks' seven free throws in the final minute were just enough to hold off Nazareth's furious final rally.

In the first half, the Golden Flyers finished 5-6 (83%) from outside the arc to stay in the game. Kollar connected on a three with just seven seconds remaining in the period to cut Nazareth's deficit to nine points, 28-19, at the break.  Prior to Kollar's basket, Nazareth missed eight consecutive shots as Hartwick held the Golden Flyers' scoreless for over seven minutes. Nazareth's defense also kept the Golden Flyers in the game as they allowed the Hawks to shoot just 37 percent from the field (11-30) in the first half. Nine offensive rebounds and 14 first half turnovers by the Golden Flyers provided Hartwick with the additional scoring opportunities.

In addition to the points by Patenaude, Kollar, and Shaw, Wilson and TallChief finished with six points and four points, respectively. TallChief and Gallagher recorded six rebounds apiece to provide Nazareth with a final 38-30 advantage on the glass.

Kate Purcell had a game-high 14 points for the Hawks. Vincents finished with 13 points and Maria Foglia added 11 points. Tracey Koch grabbed eight rebounds to lead Hartwick.