ROCHESTER, NY – Senior Rachel Benedict scored a game-high 19 points as the Nazareth College women's basketball team held a lead until late in the fourth quarter at RIT but the Tigers took a lead with 3:13 remaining and held on for a 66-60 victory Thursday night in the first round of the Mark's Pizzeria Crosstown Shootout.

Nazareth (3-1) tied the game with 1:47 left as Benedict converted a three-point play with a layup and a free throw but RIT (1-3) scored the next five points to regain the lead and then connected on each of its final five free throws to secure the victory.

Benedict led three players into double-figures scoring as sophomore Jadyn Abrams finished with 14 points and freshman Ryann Stefaniak added 12 points off the bench for the Golden Flyers.

Junior Isabella Gjonaj finished with six points, a team-best eight rebounds and four blocks. Benedict added six rebounds and three steals.

Nazareth took an early lead and held a 16-11 advantage after the first 10 minutes and led 32-30 at the halftime break.

The Golden Flyers extended the lead slightly after winning the third quarter by a point at 11-10 and held the 43-40 lead after three quarters.

Nazareth will face the University of Rochester Saturday in the second game of the Crosstown Shootout with a 6 p.m. game at RIT.