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HOUGHTON, N .Y. – Visiting Nazareth opened its Empire 8 Conference schedule in successful fashion Tuesday as the Golden Flyers played well at both ends of the floor in a 64-38 women's basketball victory over Houghton. Junior center Lindsey Kelly scored a game-high 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds and junior guard Veronica Peck added 12.

Nazareth won its third straight game to improve to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in the E8. Houghton slipped to 3-8 overall and 0-3 in conference games.

Nazareth took control early after yielding the game's first basket. Junior Sam Sorge scored the next five points and Nazareth never trailed again. Peck scored nine of her points in the first half as Nazareth's lead grew to as large as 22 points before the Golden Flyers settled for a 37-17 lead at the break. Nazareth also got some good first-half minutes from freshman Samantha Peebles, who drilled a three-pointer with 9:17 to stretch Nazareth's lead to double digits for the first time at 20-9.

Peck and junior Julia Brew each added three-point baskets later in the half as Nazareth's lead continued to grow. Peck three-pointer with 6:03 left made it 27-13 and Brew's trey made it 37-15 with :33 left.
The Golden Flyers held Houghton to just six first-half field goals and a season-low 38 points overall.

Houghton scored the first basket of the second half, but Nazareth quickly answered with the next eight points, including a three-pointer by Brew, to erase any comeback throughts. In the second half, Kelly scored 10 of her points and Nazareth's lead grew as large as 27 points at 50-23 following a jumper by Hannah Runyon with 11:12 left.

Maisie Pipher finished as the Highlanders' high scorer with 16 points, but Nazareth defended well until the end, holding the Highlanders scoreless for the final 3:42. Nazareth held Houghton to just 24.2 percent shooting (15-for-62) with no three-pointers in seven attempts. Nazareth went 24-for-56 from the floor with five threes.

Nazareth home for a pair of conference games this weekend. The Golden Flyers host Hartwick Friday at 6 p.m. and Stevens Saturday at 2.