Box Score l Updated Stats

HOUGHTON, NY – Junior Samantha Peebles went 4-for-4 from the free throw line over the final minute to help Nazareth seal a 50-47 win Saturday over host Houghton College.  Nazareth completes the weekend sweep after a commanding 88-64 victory Friday night over Alfred University.

Nazareth now sits at 6-5 overall and 2-0 in Empire 8 play, while Houghton falls to 7-4 and 1-1, respectively.

The Highlanders jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and held onto the lead until late in the second quarter.   After allowing 18 points in the first quarter, the Nazareth defense stepped up to hold Houghton to just four points in the second.

Sam Sorge led the way with nine points in the first half, including knocking down two free throws at the 1:33 mark to give Nazareth its first lead at 23-22.  Nazareth carried a 24-22 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter, Houghton reclaimed the lead for a four minute span, before Nazareth's Shelby Benjamin hit a layup at 1:38, giving the Golden Flyers a 33-32 margin.

Veteran leaders Sorge and Peebles took over for the Golden Flyers in the fourth, scoring all 17 points.  Sorge had nine of her game-high 18 points (7-for-17) in the fourth, while Peebles contributed eight of her 13 points (4-for-12). 

Sorge nailed a 3-pointer with 3:32 to play to push Nazareth's lead to 46-40.  Down the stretch, Houghton would come no closer than three points as Peebles converted her free throws.

The junior guard grabbed a season-high 12 boards to go along with three assists.

Rachel Benedict went for eight points (3-for-8) and 10 rebounds.

Benjamin dropped seven points on 3-for-6.

Nazareth returns to action on Thursday, when it hosts Utica at 6 p.m.