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HOBOKEN N.J. – Freshmen
Lindsey Kelly and
Veronica Peck combined for 29 points for visiting Nazareth Friday as the Golden Flyers held off Stevens in an Empire 8 Conference women's basketball game, winning 56-53 over the Ducks.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Golden Flyers, who improved to 5-11 overall and 2-4 in the Empire 8. The Ducks dropped to 8-7 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The victory also was the first-ever for the Golden Flyers over the Ducks in women's basketball. Nazareth had lost the previous 11 meetings with the Ducks, including a 67-60 overtime loss at Nazareth Jan. 5.
To win, Nazareth withstood a valiant second-half comeback by the Ducks, who trailed 30-17 at halftime and by as many as 18 points in the first half before closing to within one point, 54-53, in the closing minute. After
Maria Allocco missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity with :26 left, Kelly grabbed the offensive rebound, drew a foul and sank the two subsequent free throws to seal the win.
Prior to that, Nazareth went up seven, 54-47 on a pair of free throws by
Erica Shaw with 2:00 left. Stevens then scored the next six points, including a three-pointer by freshman Miranda Ripken with :33 left to close within 54-53. That set the stage for Kelly's clutch free throws with :23 left after Allocco's miss. Stevens got the ball back, but committed a turnover and missed a desperation shot to end the game.
Kelly scored a team-high 19 points, including a basket with 7:31 left in the first half to give the Golden Flyers their largest lead of the night at 26-8.
Stevens stormed back behind the scoring of Molly Spadaro, who scored 15 of her game-high 22 points in the second half before fouling out in the closing seconds. Shaw scored 11 points and passed for five assists for the Golden Flyers and Peck contributed 10 points and three assists.
Nazareth shot 15 for 48 (.313) from the field and 20 for 31 from the foul line, including a 7-for-8 effort from Kelly. Nazareth went 6 for 12 from three-point range. The Golden Flyers play again Saturday at Hartwick at 5 p.m.
