Box | Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. –  Junior Lindsey Kelly led all scorers with 22 points Tuesday and senior Melissa Reeves collected a game-high 11 rebounds as host Nazareth defeated Elmira in Empire 8 women's basketball action, 62-41, at the Kidera Gymnasium.
 
Nazareth improved to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the Empire 8. Elmira slipped to 6-9 overall and 3-5 in conference games. The Golden Flyers are off until Jan. 30 whe they host St. John Fisher at 6 p.m.

Kelly made 10 of 14 shots from the field in recording her season-high of 22 points. She also grabbed six rebounds. Junior Julia Brew added 13 points and junior Sam Sorge contributed nine points and seven assists.

The Golden Flyers were ahead almost from the outset Tuesday as Brew nailed a three-pointer on the first shot of the game. Nazareth led by as many as 12 points in the first half before settling for a nine-point lead, 29-20, at halftime. Brew scored 11 of her points, which included all three of the team's three-pointers in the first half. Kelly added seven of points despite sitting out 11 minutes with two fouls. Nazareth led 29-17 after a basket by Reeves with 2:07 left in the half. Elmira closed the half with a basket by Karli Pochkar and a free throw by Meghan Loya.

The Golden Flyers picked up in the second half where they left off in the first. Nazareth was able to pound the ball into Kelly, who made seven field goals in the final 20 minutes and had 15 of her points. The lead grew to 15 points at 45-30 following a three-pointer by freshman Samantha Peebles. A basket by Reeves with 7:21 to go expanded the lead to 20 points at 52-32 and a layup by Kelly pushed the lead to a game-high 25 points, 59-34, with 3:40 to go.

Nazareth shot 24 for 53 (45.3 percent) from the field and 4 for 12 (33.3 percent) from three-point range and enjoyed a decisive 42-29 rebounding advantage. Alex Balara led Elmira with 14 points and Karli Pochkar added 11.