Box Score Box | Updated stats

HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Visiting Nazareth defeated Houghton 60-52 in a non-conference women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon behind a career-high 17 points from sophomore Veronica Peck. The Golden Flyers led by at least three points throughout the second half and took a game-high 13-point lead with 20 seconds remaining in regulation.



With the victory, Nazareth improves to 4-6 overall. With the loss, the Highlanders fall to 4-7 overall.



The first half featured five lead changes before the Golden Flyers closed the period with a 12-5 scoring run during the final 3:06. Freshman Hayley Spoljaric started the run with a layup, Peck added a layup, and her bucket was followed by a three-point basket by junior Hannah Runyon. With six seconds to play in the stanza, Peck converted a layup to give Nazareth a 31-24 lead at the break.



Houghton opened the second half with consecutive baskets to trim its deficit to three points, 31-28, but Nazareth responded with back-to-back three-point baskets by sophomore Julia Brew and senior Anna Wicks in a span of 29 seconds to take a 37-28 lead 4:10 into the period. With just under seven minutes to play in regulation, sophomore Colby McCartney connected on a shot from beyond the arc to give the Golden Flyers a 50-38 lead. The Highlanders closed to within seven points with 3:13 to play, but were unable to cut their deficit further. Peck converted on six of seven free throws in a span of 24 seconds to give Nazareth a 60-47 lead with 20 seconds to play to secure the Golden Flyers' victory.



In addition to the points from Peck, Runyon finished with 11 points and sophomore Lindsey Kelly added eight points. Brew and Wicks each tallied six points and McCartney had five points.



Kristen Moose tallied a game-high 18 points for the Highlanders. Maisie Pipher collected a game-high 13 rebounds, and Moose grabbed another 10 boards. Houghton finished with a 48-38 advantage on the glass. Nazareth's defense held the Highlanders to 26.7 percent (16-60) from the field for the game, including 23.7 percent (9-38) from the field in the second half.



Nazareth returns to action Tuesday with a road game at Alfred at 6 p.m. before returning to the Kidera Gymnasium to host Stevens and Hartwick on Friday and Saturday, respectively.