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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Host Nazareth outscored Hartwick 27-19 in the fourth quarter Friday to break open a close game and the Golden Flyers went on to take a 80-73 women's basketball victory over the Hawks at the Kidera Gymnasium.

The game marked the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams and lifted the Golden Flyers' overall record to 6-4. The Hawks dropped to 7-3 overall. Both teams are in action Saturday. The Golden Flyers visit Houghton at 2 p.m., while Hartwick travels to St. John Fisher.

Junior Rachel Benedict, celebrating her 21st birthday, scored a game-high 26 points to go with nine rebounds and three assists. Freshman Jadyn Abrams added 23 points and five assists with three three-pointers and sophomore Elizabeth White contributed 11 points and six assists.

The game was close throughout with 12 ties and 15 lead changes. The Hawks led by one, 54-53, heading into the final 10 minutes when the Golden Flyers' shooting heated up. Nazareth went 7-for-11 from the floor in the fourth quarter, 3-for-6 from three-point range and 10-for-11 from the foul line to pull away.

A three-pointer by Hartwick's Mary Schoenherr with 5:56 left gave the Hawks a three-point lead at 60-57. Benedict scored for Nazareth on the next possession to trigger a 12-0 scoring run that ended with Nazareth on top for good, 69-60, with 3:04 to go. Benedict and Abrams each hit clutch three-point shots during the decisive run that ended with a basket by Isabella Gjonaj.

With less than two minutes left, White hit a three-pointer to keep the lead at eight points, 72-64. Lizzie Straub added a pair of free throws and Benedict added six more in the closing minute to making the conference opener a success.

Nazareth led 17-16 after one quarter before Hartwick took leads of 34-32 and 54-53 after the second and third quarters. Gjonaj finished with a game-high 11 rebounds in addition to contributing eight points, five assists and four blocks. Junior Erica Bradley came off the bench to add six points.