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ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Host Nazareth rallied from an early deficit Friday to defeat St. John Fisher, 69-59, in a key Empire 8 women's basketball game at the Kidera Gymnasium.

In the annual Battle of the Beaks rivalry game vs. the Cardinals, the Golden Flyers used a 29-19 fourth quarter advantage to break a 40-40 tie. Nazareth will bring a 14-7 overall record and a conference mark of 9-3 into Saturday's home game against Utica at 2 p.m. Fisher visits Hartwick Sunday with an overall record of 14-7 and a 8-4 record in the Empire 8. It was Nazareth's second win of the season over the Cardinals.

Junior Rachel Benedict led all scorers with 25 points with four three-point baskets to pace the Golden Flyers. Freshman Jadyn Abrams added 17 with three three-pointers. Nazareth made 12 three-pointers on 23 attempts in the game with six different players connecting from long distance. Junior Lizzie Straub added eight points with two three-pointers and Isabella Gjonaj's stat line included a career-high six blocks and four steals. Freshman Miyah Sizer had five points and five assists.

With the score deadlocked after three quarters, Nazareth dominated the fourth period, using a 22-6 run over the first seven minutes to take a commanding 62-46 lead. Benedict had seven of her points in the fourth quarter as Nazareth made 6-of-7 field goal attempts including four three pointers from four different players (Abrams, Benedict, Straub and Kristen Simmons). The Golden Flyers were able to close out the Cardinals at the free throw line as they made 13-of-14 foul shots in the fourth, with four by Abrams and two by Elizabeth White in the closing minute.

Nazareth got off to a poor start in making just 2 of 15 shots in the first 10 minutes and enabling Fisher to take a 19-5 lead. Fisher, meanwhile, went 7-for-17 in the first quarter and grabbed 16 rebounds to Nazareth's seven.
Nazareth staged a dramatic second-quarter rally, fueled by five three-point baskets – two by Benedict and one each for Abrams, White and Straub. The 19-2 scoring run ended with Nazareth up 24-21. The Cardinals regained the lead before halftime and were up 29-25 at the break.

Proceeds from Friday's game were donated to the Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial. The annual rivalry games have raised more than $140,000 over the past 10 years.