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ALBANY, N.Y. -- Visiting Nazareth outscored Sage 22-11 in the fourth quarter Friday to erase a six-point deficit and take a 66-61 women's basketball victory over the Gators.
The victory, Nazareth's third in a row and fifth in six games, avenged a previous defeat and improved the Golden Flyers' overall record to 13-6. They are 8-2 in Empire 8 Conference action. Sage, which defeated Nazareth 78-62 on Jan. 12, dropped to 10-9 overall and 5-5 in the E8.
Rachel Benedict led Nazareth with 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter.
Miyah Sizer contributed a career-best 11 points and
Erica Bradley had 10, including a pair of big three-point shots in the fourth quarter.
Trailing 50-44 heading into the final 10-minute period, the Golden Flyers got two three-pointers from Bradley and one from Benedict to erase the deficit in the first two minutes and take the lead for good at 53-52. A basket by
Jadyn Abrams and another by Benedict enabled the Golden Flyers to start the quarter on a 13-2 scoring run that ultimately made the difference in the outcome.
With the Golden Flyers clinging to a three-point lead in the closing minute, Benedict uncharacteristically missed a pair of free throws with :35 left. Sage's Emily Parslow scored with :25 left to trim the lead to one, 60-59, but Benedict gained redemption by sinking six foul shots in the final 22 seconds to seal the win.
Nazareth led 30-24 at halftime, but fell behind in the third quarter when Sage went on a 26-14 scoring spree. That set the stage for the final 10 minutes, during which Nazareth made 6 of 13 shots from the field, including the three three-pointers to open the frame.
In making her first start of the season,
Miyah Sizer had three assists and three steals in addition to her 11 points. Benedict also grabbed eight rebounds.
Nazareth visits Stevens Saturday at 3 p.m.