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SELINSGROVE, PA – Junior Rachel Benedict scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Nazareth College women's basketball team to a 63-59 victory over Susquehanna University Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the Susquehanna Trailways Tipoff Tournament in Houts Gymnasium.

For her effort, Benedict was named the tournament MVP and fellow junior Lizzie Straub earned All-Tournament honors.

Benedict's offense may have earned the MVP award but it was the Nazareth (2-0) defense that sealed the victory in the fourth quarter as the Golden Flyers held Susquehanna (2-1) to just seven points in the final 10 minutes.

The key defensive play came with 4.5 seconds left to play and Nazareth leading by four points. Susquehanna had an inbounds play after each team had called a time out and sophomore Isabella Gjonaj applied the pressure on the inbounds pass and forced a five-seconds call that gave the ball back to Nazareth to seal the win.

A pair of plays by freshman twin sisters Miyah and Makalah Sizer were keys in the closing minutes as well. With less than 25 seconds to play and Nazareth holding a 60-59 lead, a long 3-pointer by Susquehanna was off the mark and Makalah Sizer grabbed the defensive rebound for the Golden Flyers.

After moving the ball up the court, Miyah Sizer was fouled to stop the clock and calmly hit both free throws to extend the lead to three points for Nazareth.

After the five-seconds call that turned the ball over, Benedict was fouled and hit a free throw to make it a four-point edge and cap the scoring.

Jadyn Abrams netted 12 points including a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter while Miyah Sizer finished with nine for the Golden Flyers.

Nazareth returns to action Tuesday with a 4 p.m. game at SUNY Fredonia.