Women's Basketball | 12/4/2014 8:07:00 PM

Box Score Box | Updated stats | Tournament site
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Sixth-seeded Nazareth fell to seventh-seeded RIT in Thursday's consolation game in the Wendy's Classic. Junior Lindsey Kelly and senior Hannah Runyon each finished in double-digits in scoring with 20 points and 13 points, respectively.

Following the loss, the Golden Flyers slip to 3-2 overall. With the victory, the Tigers improve to 4-2 overall. Nazareth will play William Smith in the seventh-place game at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Kidera Gymnasium.

In the first half, RIT forced Nazareth into 16 turnovers and held the Golden Flyers to 8-24 (33 percent) from the field in the opening stanza to claim a 34-27 lead at the break. RIT's Ashlynn Palmitesso has 11 points in the first 20 minutes to lead the Tigers.

Nazareth opened the second half with a 10-2 scoring run to claim a 37-36 lead. Runyon scored the first four points of the run with a pair of free throws and a jumper.  Kelly followed with the next four points on a layup and jumper. After a Tigers' bucket, Kelly and junior Veronica Peck each had a layup to cap the run.

The Tigers, however, rebounded with an 18-2 scoring run to 54-39 lead to take a game-high 15-point lead with 7:30 to play in regulation. The Golden Flyers closed to within five points, 55-50, only 3:13 later, but it was as close as Nazareth would rally. Senior Maria Allocco started the run with a layup while Runyon and Kelly combined for six free throws.  Junior Sam Sorge also connected on a shot from outside the arc.

With the momentum swinging in the Golden Flyers' direction, Palmitesso scored the next four points on free throws and Amanda Olsen connected on a three-pointer to reclaim the Tigers' double-digit lead.

Nazareth finished with a 50-38 advantage in total rebounds, led by a game-high 14 by Kelly. Sorge added seven boards. RIT's defensive pressure forced the Golden Flyers into 26 turnovers for the game.  Although the teams finished with about the same free throw percentage, 68 percent to 65 percent in the Tigers' favor, RIT had 14 more free throw attempts. Seven free throws in the final 1:21 secured the Tigers' win.

RIT's Palmitesso finished with a team-high 17 points after Nazareth's defense held her to six points in the second stanza. The Tigers had a balanced scoring attack with four additional players tallying at least nine points.