Box Score l Updated Stats

BUFFALO, NY – The Nazareth women's basketball squad overcame a three point halftime deficit, holding Thiel to just 16 points in the second half, en route to a 67-53 victory in the first game of the Buffalo State Tournament Friday.  Freshman forward Rachel Benedict was an efficient 10-for-19 from the floor to post a game-high 25 points, while adding 13 rebounds for a double-double.  Also posting a double-double was junior guard Samantha Peebles, who poured in 12 points (3-for-9) and grabbed 11 boards.
 
Nazareth will play either Buffalo State or Cazenovia in the championship game on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The Golden Flyers open the season 1-0 with the win, while Thiel drops to 1-2.
 
After trailing 37-34 at the break, Nazareth took the lead for good near the midway point of the third quarter on a Lizzie Straub jumper to make it 44-43.
 
Nazareth scored the next six points and led 51-47 heading to the final frame.
 
The story of the fourth quarter was Thiel being held to just six points, allowing the Golden Flyers to increase their lead.  The Tomcats shot 12 percent in the fourth quarter (2-of-17), compared to Nazareth's 41 percent (6-of-13).
 
Benedict had 17 of her 25 points come in the second half.  Senior Sam Sorge notched 20 points on 7-of-16 from the floor. 

Freshman Shelby Benjamin contributed six points on 3-of-4 from the field. 
 
Nazareth led by as many as eight in the first half before the Tomcats closed on a 26-15 run to take the lead.